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Sanctity of Truth Facebook.com/newtelegraph

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 63

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Electricity generation to hit 12,000mw by 2016 230 abducted girls lSenate chides electricity firms on power supply Chukwu David and Dan Atori

N

ational Electricity Regulatory Commission

(NERC) has issued about 20,000 licences to investors to ensure generation of between 10,000 and 12,000

megawatts before the end of 2016.

Chairman of the commission, Dr. Sam Amadi,

disclosed this yesterday in Minna, Niger State at a town hall session with stakeholders.

According to him, elecC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3

of GGSC still missing Page }4 - Parents

CAN, APC urges FG, security agents to intensify rescue efforts

Shell’s N840 billion oil blocs

Foreign agencies, EFCC, ICPC probe ex-governors

lSale of OML-18, OML-24, OML-25, OML-29 four weeks behind schedule Tunde Osowe

T

he alleged involvement of two former governors in the purchase of four oil wells worth N840 billion ($5 billion) which oil giant, Shell, is divesting, is already being probed by some international antigraft agencies.

Detectives skilled in matters of money laundering, fraud and official sleaze from the international agencies based in Brussels, Belgium; Washington D.C., the United States (U.S.), Paris, France and London, Britain are already in the country working in conjunction with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to exC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2

Some participants at the 2014 Lagos Carnival...yesterday

PHOTO: Suleiman Husaini

Alleged genocide: Nyako may head for ICC Onwuka Nzeshi, Temitope Ogunbanke and Ibrahim Abdul

U

ndeterred by the barrage of criticisms that

lOhanaeze, Afenifere to gov: You’re reckless has trailed his genocide allegation against the Presidency and Nigerian

Army, Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State may have perfected plans

to drag the Federal Government and President Goodluck Jonathan to the

International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

The Charge: Extra-judi-

cial killings and genocide in the North.

Nyako, who disclosed this to newsmen in Yola late on Sunday, declared: C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2

2

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Foreign agencies, EFCC, ICPC probe ex-govs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

amine the involvement of these former governors who still play active roles in the politics of their states.

The four oil wells, in which Shell has a 45 per cent stake, are OML-18, OML-24, OML-25 and OML-29.

Successful bidders for the four blocs are to pay over $5 billion for the stakes held by Shell, in conjunction with two other international oil companies.

It was learnt yesterday that investigation into the involvement of these two former governors, using ‘fronts’ to get the blocs, is responsible for the delay in the sale.

“The sale should have been concluded in eight weeks but now, we are in the 12th week and unless these foreign officials, in conjunction with the EFCC and ICPC, finish their task, there will be no sale. You know these people are thorough in everything they do. This is caus-

ing serious tension among the promoters and bidding firms because these detectives are combing their books to see the involvement of the former governors in how they source funds,” a source said.

Dangote/Dansa, Midwestern/Mart/Notore and Sahara Consortium are bidding for OML-18 while Sahara Consortium, PanOcean/Newcross, Shoreline and Aiteo/Taleveras are bidding for OML-24.

Lekoil, Crestar, GreenAcres/CCC/Signet Petroleum, NDPR/SAPETRO and Essar are bidding for OML-25 while Vertex/Seplat/Maurel&Prom/VP Global, Glencore/Neconde, Transcorp and Aiteo/Taleveras are also bidding for OML-29.

The source revealed that ‘a strong petition’ from some stakeholders in the oil industry that the oil blocs are about to get into the hands of those linked to questionable public

funds is responsible for the investigation. ”High bids have been tendered to get the blocs at all costs but the detectives are considering the antecedents of those who submitted the high bids because money is not everything. The image of Shell is at stake and the name of Nigeria is also at stake. What has been the contribution or involvement of those submitting high bids in the oil industry in the last 20 years?

What is their track record in oil exploration? Who are the experts working with them? These are some of the reasons the whole process has come under serious scrutiny from global anti-graft institutions and foreign governments.”

According to the source, the anti-graft institutions are poised to ensure that “only firms with transparent business records with no link whatsoever to individuals and bodies

believed to have benefitted from proceeds of corruption in the past and present are allotted the blocs. In essence, they are putting Shell under serious pressure to ensure that politically-exposed persons or those who have corruptly enriched themselves are not handed the blocs. One area that cannot be overlooked is the source of funds of interested bidders and the eventual owners of these assets.

“Also, a repeat of the recently-concluded sale of the unbundled firms in the power sector, where competence and technical knowhow were sacrificed, which has led to the attendant worsening of the power situation in the country, must be avoided.

“Look at the revelations from the probe of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) crude oil swap and you see the extent to which some can go in Nigeria to make

illicit gains. As a major player in the global business field, Shell cannot afford to be indifferent to the global war on corruption and the drive to enthrone ethical conduct in public office. Former and serving public officers should never be allowed to corner the nation’s patrimony after corruptly enriching themselves using proxies,” he added.

Some of the prominent Nigerians behind the firms bidding for the blocs are Africa’s richest man and world’s 25th, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (Dangote/Dansa); former Defence Minister, Lt-Gen. T. Y. Danjuma (Sapetro); former Group Managing Director (GMD) of UBA Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu (Transcorp); Tonye Cole (Sahara Consortium), Jide Omokore (Midwestern/ Notore), Benedict Peters (Aiteo/Taleveras), Funsho Kupolokun (GreenAcres) and Lekan Akinyanmi (Lekoil).

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

30o C 26oC Thunder Storms

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PORT HARCOURT

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L-R: Minister of Tourism, Mr. Edem Duke; Governor Babatunde Fashola, his wife, Abimbola, and the Deputy Governor, Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire during the 2014 Lagos Carnival at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Marina, Lagos...yesterday.

Ohanaeze, Afenifere blast gov, say he’s reckless CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

IBADAN

31 C 24 C o

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MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

39oC 27oC Mostly Sunny

33o C 24oC Thunder Storms

“Mass murderers are imbedded in our legitimate and traditional defence and security organisations to carry out the genocide and Nigerians are beginning to read a lot of meanings to it.

In a very short while, when we confirm certain things or certain instances, where people became suspicious, our findings will be exposed and we are set to drag them to ICC for genocide.

“We also need the servic-

es of appropriate non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to help us arraign all those involved in the genocide before the ICC at The Hague. They should pay full compensation for loss of lives and property as per the laws of this country,” he stressed.

The governor stated that the North will galvanise international support to challenge the alleged genocide against the region.

“We need international

support to compile an accurate data on the dead, maimed, wounded, displaced and missing in the North-East zone, especially Borno and Yobe states and now other Northern states for payment of full compensation for the loss of lives and property.

“We in the North have an open agenda to protect our people from acts against us similar to those in the foregoing. We should demand our human rights;

we should demand protection against the evil acts being done to our people and environments,” he said.

The governor also said there is no basis not to hold election in the North-East in 2015. “We should demand the right to vote in the 2015 general elections as the people of war-torn Afghanistan did and were able to vote in smooth general elections on April 5. If it could be done in AfghanC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4

FLIGHT SCHEDULE FIRST NATION AIRWAYS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45 (SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50 AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30 MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30 OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00 ARIK AIR LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

W

ithout the cooperation of all Nigerians, the war the Armed Forces are waging against terrorists and insurgents may remain a protracted one, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), has warned.

In an interview with New Telegraph, Nwachukwu, a former combatant, rose to the defence of the

Army needs full cooperation to defeat insurgents - Nwachukwu security forces, saying the soldiers needed to be commended rather than vilified having put their lives on the line in defence of the lives of their fellow citizens and the territorial integrity of the country.

The soldiers, Nwachukwu said, needed the support of all Nigerians to defeat the

insurgents and liberate the North- East geo-political zone from the grip of terrorism.

According to him, every Nigerian owes the Army a duty to gather and supply relevant information in tracking down the insurgents.

“I am absolutely im-

pressed with what the Armed Forces are doing to combat this insurgency.

Why? Because these men and women signed off their lives to defend their country and they are doing their jobs against all odds.

What intelligence do they get? Who is passing on information to them?

L-R: Traditional ruler of Awu Isuikwuato community, Chief Chris Aboh; Country Leader, Ipas Nigeria, Dr. Ejike Oji and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd) at the presentation of chieftaincy title to Oji at Ovim, Abia...yesterday.

45.9

3

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Australia in 2007.

Source: Itu.int

12%

The percentage of internally displaced persons to total population of Sudan in 2009.

Source: Blatantworld.com

8.6m

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Egypt in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

“It is not the business of government alone, it is the business of everyone, including you that is interviewing me now. If you see things that are untoward, you report. When you do and it gets to them and they feel the same, they will deal with it. Now, no military in the world can defeat insurgency without the support of the people,” he said.

Nwachukwu said the insurgents’ guerrilla warfare of “strike and disappear”, makes it difficult to contain them. This, he said, was also the reason the Federal Government has been unable to negotiate with those behind the insurgency, adding that you cannot negotiate with people you can’t see.

However, he admitted that the military might have to reassess its strategy.

“Every military commander in the field understands that as the battle rages or as whatever operation you are carrying out goes on, you change your tactics to deal with it and I know that they are going to do this because these are professional men and women.

“I believe that from this National Conference, if we are able to come out with a new Nigeria where there is balance, where the federa-

tion is truly federated and the states or zones are allowed to run their affairs the way it was run during the time of Sardauna, Balewa, Azikiwe and Awolowo, then our country will be able to deal with the problems like this closely and more effectively.

“The Federal Government as it is today is too huge. We need to devolve powers so that those at the federating units can play their roles the way it was in the past. In that way, we will have more people working towards the stability of Nigeria,” he said.

On the challenge posed

by Nigeria’s porous borders and the suggestion that concrete walls be erected to prevent indiscriminate influx of aliens into the country, Nwachukwu said it was more important for people at the border communities to be more vigilant as any wall could be breached if people are not prepared to take national security as a collective responsibility.

He also advised the military commanders in the North-East to always be mindful of the possible role of Fifth Columnists who might be giving away battle plans to the enemy thereby causing security breaches.

Electricity generation to hit 12,000mw by 2016 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tricity market has been made attractive to both local and international investors as many foreign investments have been received by the commission.

“We are also diversifying by giving more licences for solar, small hydro, wind firm and asking distribution companies to procure small powers within their communities in order to generate some small megawatts to take care of their immediate environs without going to the national grid,” Amadi declared.

Amadi admitted that there were problems which led to failed power supply in the early 80s but that such have been overcome through policy consistency on systematic planning for power. He added however

that transmission capacity and gas supply between 80 and 90 per cent now comes directly from gas fire plant as part of reform in electricity generation in Nigeria.

The reason there has been no stable power despite the ongoing reform, he said, was that the process was not well communicated.

“A process of correction has been set up to ensure stable electricity supply in no distance time,” the NERC boss said.

He noted that the Federal Government has invested in new technology to monitor the pipeline network to curb vandalism which he said include gasification, satellite, censors and encouraging communities with incentives to

protect, police and monitor pipelines.

“Gas pipelines are vulnerable and their vulnerability cannot end soon because of underlining economic issues,” he added.

Amadi, while giving assurance on increased supply, said the 12,000 megawatts needed to ensure constant power supply would be achieved in due course.

“Federal Government is determined to put an end to inadequate gas supply to power plants as many gas pipelines which will supply gas directly to the plants were due for commissioning between this year and 2015.

“Before the reforms, power plants were not paying gas suppliers which

hindered its supply as the suppliers preferred to serve alternative demands like industries and exportation as major focus of gas exploration.

“The commission now has a clear framework and cost-reflective tariffs which have increased interest for investment in the power sector in Nigeria, as generating 1,000 megawatts gives about $100 million equivalent of over N1 billion,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Power and Metallurgy, Senator Philip Aduda, yesterday decried the epileptic power supply in the country, lamenting that despite the completion of the privatisation of the power sector since 2013, Nigerians have been witnessing

incessant outage.

Aduda stated this while briefing journalists on the two-day oversight tour of the sites of some electricity distribution companies within the Federal Capital Territory last week.

He noted with concern that Nigerians had expected substantial power supply in the country or at least, a certain level of improvement in supply after the privatisation process was completed.

He said: “All what Nigerians want to see is substantial power supply. I am no longer comfortable with the situation of power outage in the country. That is why we decided as a committee, to embark on a twoday oversight function that will enable us to see things for ourselves.”

At the office of Kann Electric Distribution Company, Aduda said he told the Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr. Neil F. Croucher, that he was there to see facilities put in place that will ensure service delivery to Nigerians and to ensure that government’s 40 per cent equity was being properly maintained.

He said the Federal Government had done well by ensuring that the privatisation process was successful, saying, “hence we expect nothing less than adequate power supply in the country.”

He pledged that his committee would not relent in its oversight function until the situation was completely brought under control so that Nigerians would have value for their money.

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NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

230 abducted female students still missing –Parents Ahmed Miringa and Yekeen Nurudeen

A

bout 230 of out the estimated 270 abducted female students of the Government Girls Secondary School (GGSC) Chibok in Borno State are still missing.

Mallam Shettima Haruna, one of the parents of the missing girls, who spoke on behalf of other parents, disclosed this yesterday in Chibok while receiving Governor Kashim Shettima who was on an assessment visit to the area.

Haruna, who wept openly, said that only 39 of the abducted girls had so far regained their freedom.

“I want to say clearly on behalf of the parents that about 230 girls are still missing. This is because only 39 girls have so far escaped to safety,”he said.

He disclosed that the parents had formed a search party after the abduction of the girls, with the aim of rescuing them.

“After the girls were abducted last Monday, we became disturbed as parents. So we formed a search party on Thursday and stormed the Sambisa forest, based on information that our children were being held there,” Haruna said.

He said that the parents were conveyed on about 1500 motorcycles on the

search in Sambisa forest.

“We rode on about 1500 motorcycles, each carrying between one and three persons. We went to several places asking questions, but each time we were directed to new place, until we reached a particular place at the middle of the forest with only two houses,” Haruna said.

“As we kept searching, we met a Fulani man who gave us information that he saw our girls with the abductors ahead. But our motorcycles began to develop problems due to the intensity of the search,” Haruna said.

He said that the team managed to move forward to a point where it met a lone man in the thick forest.

“The man actually told us that our children were not far from the place. But he warned that the people (abductors) were well armed and kill at will, so we decided to save our lives and returned,” Haruna said.

He appealed to Shettima to prevail on security agents to help comb the area and rescue their children.

In his speech, the governor condoled the parents over the development, assuring that security agents were working hard to rescue the girls.

Narrating his ordeal, a parent, Mallam Amos Chiroma, who claimed to

have been among those who dared the Sambisa Forest said while they were there with over 200 volunteers who only had cutlasses, bows and arrows and sticks, they came across different makeshift camps suspected to owned by terrorists, adding that they had to return to Chibok, when they met one Good Samaritan who warned them to go back because they were approaching a dangerous zone dominated by terrorists.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has mean-

while called on the abductors of the girls to release them immediately and without conditions, in the spirit of the season.

The party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this yesterday.

The party urged the kidnappers to free the girls who remain in their custody and cease forthwith all acts of violence against innocent citizens.

“Violence has never resolved any issue. Dialogue is always the preferred and civilized way to go in resolving any conflict, no

matter how difficult. We are therefore calling on those who have been perpetrating unbridled violence to stop their despicable acts and renounce violence,’’ APC said.

The North-East Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has also urged the Federal Government and security agents to intensify efforts to rescue the remaining abducted girls.

The Zonal CAN Chairman, Rev. Shuaibu Byal, made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in

Gombe yesterday.

Byal said CAN as at yesterday had on its records 83 school girls still with their captors.

He said the Federal Government and security agents should urgently reinforce and re-double efforts at rescuing the girls.

“We don’t know what is happening to our girls up there in Chibok. It is very unfortunate. But we are still aware that there are about 83 girls who are still out there. We were told just this (Monday) morning that two of them escaped from their captors.”

L-R: Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State condoling with Senator Babayo Gamawa over the death of his father in Gamawa, Bauchi State...on Sunday. With them is the president, Small Scale Entrepreneurs, Alhaji Sunusi.

N120.3bn

The IGR realised from PAYE (taxes) of Lagos State in 2011.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

129m

The number of active mobile-broadband subscriptions of CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) in 2013.

Source: Itu.int

5.15m

The total number of internet users in Romania in 2007.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Ohanaeze, Afenifere blast gov, say he’s reckless CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

istan, it should be done in Nigeria, the whole of Nigeria!” said Nyako.

But flaks have continued to fly in Nyako’s direction over his allegation.

Prominent Southern leaders yesterday came down hard on the governor, describing his outburst against President Jonathan and the Nigerian Army as unfortunate.

Both pan Yoruba sociocultural group, Afenifere, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo said Nyako was careless with his genocide claim.

Nyako had, in a letter to 18 northern state governors, accused the Federal Government of car-

rying out genocide against northern states. He also alleged that President Jonathan had no exit strategy to the problem of insurgency.

The President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Garry Enwo-Igariway, described Nyako’s statement as unfortunate.

“It’s a very careless statement not expected of somebody of his position in the society; extremely dangerous and careless,” he said.

Enwo-Igariway added: “One, the genocide allegation was unfortunate; the letter was unfortunate and not expected of a leader.

Two, Nyako, by the letter, does not help the situation

on ground. The situation is a serious issue and should be approached seriously.

“The Nigerian Army has evolved over time and has become too sophisticated for anybody to use to achieve his own goal.

So, I do not see how anybody can use the Army to achieve any genocide anywhere in Nigeria.”

Leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, described Nyako’s genocide claim as an escape route for his leadership failure.

He accused Nyako and his likes of failing to cooperate effectively with the president in finding permanent solution to the insurgency.

Fasoranti said there were no indices on ground to show that the Jonathanled government is prosecuting war against the North. “It is not correct to say the president is embarking on genocide,” he said.

“For me, genocide is not possible. It is the misinterpretation of intention. I think it is over- reaction, and he is looking for a scapegoat. At a time, all hands should be on deck to tackle the terror act, he is accusing the Federal Government of genocide.

“I think it is like calling a dog a bad name so that you can hang it. These are the people who should

galvanise support in the North to put an end to insurgency rather than inflaming the already tense situation. They are not cooperating with the president sufficiently,” he told New Telegraph.

Senator Anietie Okon, former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and delegate to the National Conference also condemned the statement.

His words: “It is longwinding epistle of obvious inconsistencies that stood logic on its head. There is no defining traction to his statement.

“If that piece came from Governor Nyako, he went

too far in his allegation of genocide against the security forces working in the North East.

“The Nigerian Army remains one of the greatest institutions holding this country together and it is reckless to impugn its integrity in a desperate effort to explain his leadership deficiencies. It is a very cheap and mindless affront in his desperation to drag the Armed Forces into septic politicking.

“Except for the protection of the odious immunity that he enjoys, this is a clear act of subversion with serious intent to incite security and sectarian crisis in the country.”

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

5

Boko Haram: Yoruba must be vigilant, says Afenifere CAUTION

South West group warns against insurgency in Lagos and environs Temitope Ogunbanke and Muritala Ayinla

A

socio-political group, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), yesterday called on the South-West, especially traditional rulers and leaders, to take the threat

of the Boko Haram sect seriously in the light of the recent video released by the sect.

The sect’s spokesperson, in the latest video released to AFP had said that; “We are in your city and you don’t know where we are,” while claiming responsibility for the Nyanya bombing and threatening “more imminent attacks” across the country.

But, reacting to the sect’s threat yesterday, ARG called on all in the

South-West to take this threat very seriously, and be vigilant.

The pan-Yoruba group said: “We call on the residents to report to security agencies, monarchs, traditional leaders and the offices of the governors, any suspicious movement of men and materials that come to their notice.

ARG wishes to alert the traditional institutions, from the highly revered monarchs to the Baales (the village heads) and Mogajis (clan heads), to their re-

sponsibility towards their subjects in this dire time.

“All the leaders of our people at every level would have no reason, through acts of omission or commission, to allow total strangers over-run their domains.

The body also charged the traditional institutions in the region to become active and responsive as the guardian of Yoruba values.

“The time for the traditional institutions to become active and responsive as the guardian of our values is

now. The kings and village heads should be ready to accept responsibility for any security failure in their domain; and we dare say that being urban should be no excuse,” ARG said.

It, however, warned that any attempt to cause chaos or attack in the region would lead to the declaration of war as long the Yoruba race remains peaceful with all the regions of the country.

It added: “Overall, ARG would like to warn that being visited with a terror attack would amount

to a declaration of war on the peace loving people of Yorubaland, in as much as the Yoruba people have always been peaceful and are not, whether directly or indirectly, complicit in the collapse of development and security – factors which have been labelled as responsible for the rise of terrorism.

“We need to add that the Yoruba will not fold their arms if attacked and will be forced to respond in whatever shape or form deemed fit.”

APC blames PDP over insurgency Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

T

L-R: Wife of the Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West, ArchBishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Mrs Lydia Odedeji; Bishop, Rt. Revd Olusola Odedeji; member of the Church, Mr. David Oni and his wife, Deola, after the Easter church service at the church in Lagos…

66,511

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Benin Republic in 2003.

Source: Itu.int

710.6

The number of newspapers journalists per 1m of Russia in 2005.

Source: Blatantworld.com

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

2.35m

The total area (in sq. km) of Congo Democratic Republic.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

ACF wants FG to investigate Nyako’s genocide claim Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

T

he Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday called on the Federal Government to immediately investigate the allegations made by Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako, about the perpetration of genocide against the north as well as external support to Boko Haram insurgents.

The ACF made the call yesterday in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secre-

tary, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim.

The forum said the government should also investigate the source of funds, arms and ammunition that are available to the insurgents, which they have been using to carry out their deadly acts against the people.

It will be recalled that Governor Nyako accused the Federal Government of genocide in a letter dated April 16, 2014 and sent to all the 19 northern governors.

Nyako alleged that the Federal Government

has failed to arrest the mindless slaughter and indiscriminate bloodletting by the Boko Haram insurgents and other terrorist groups, which the ACF said was a clear and systematic effort to destroy the northern population for partisan political advantage.

Over the years, ACF had expressed concern over the spate of killings and destruction of property by the Boko Haram insurgents and other criminals in the north, especially in the North-East, the state-

ment noted.

The forum also said that; “It has also appealed to government at various levels on the need to adequately equip and fund the military and other security personnel to be able to tackle the challenges bedevilling the region.

“Unfortunately the measures employed by government, including a state of emergency have not yielded the desired results, hence the incessant attacks and kidnapping of innocent people by the insurgents.

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led Federal Government of deliberately handling the insurgency in the northern part of the country with a view to enhancing its profile in the 2015 elections.

Interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who made the allegations in a chat with newsmen in Irepodun Local Government area of Kwara State, said recent statements credited to the leadership

of the PDP and the actions of President Goodluck Jonathan are enough to convince members of the opposition that the ruling party was not telling all it knows about insurgency in the country.

Mohammed, who spoke after participating in the dedication of a multi-million naira St. Andrews Cathedral built by the Catholic church in the community, lamented that the Federal Government has brought religion into the forefront of political agitation in the country contrary to efforts by past leaders to ensure the integration of Nigerians irrespective of religion and ethnicity.

Normal flights resume at Kaduna airport Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

N

ormal flights have resumed at the Kaduna airport, less than 24 hours after the control tower was gutted by fire on Sunday afternoon, a staff with the Federal Airport Authority in Kaduna disclosed this to New Telegraph yesterday.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent, he saidalthoughamobilecontrol tower had been brought from Abuja as promised, it was not in use as at yesterday. He said the airport is presently using the control tower of the Fire Service at the airport.

According to him, only the eveningflightsonSundaywere cancelled but normal flights hadresumed.

In a separate interview, a

retired pilot said there was no needtodelayflightsbecauseof the accident as there are two airportsinKaduna,namelythe civilandthemilitaryairports.

“So, all ground control operations, from landing and takeoff, can be operated out of the burnt control tower using a Very High Frequency Radio,” he said, adding that “the separation and control of aircraft in the air around Kaduna should be operated from the military airport which is just about two nautical miles from the civil airport, where the control tower was burnt.’’

The captain, who said this was not the first time accidents would occurred at Kaduna airport, recalled that a Chanchangi B737 aircraft caught fire on a Sunday recently.

6

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

photo news

Ekiti 2014: We weren’t bribed to support Fayose – Aluko Stories by Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

T L-R: All Progressive Congress (APC) State Delegate, Alhaji Kabiru Ahmed; Elected Chairman, APC Ward “A” Congress , Agege, Mr. Omodele Morufu and Bishop Julius Olusanya, during the APC Ward “A” Congress Election, in Agege, Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

he 13 governorship aspirants, who lost out in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election were not bribed to support the candidate of the party, Mr Ayo Fayose.

This was stated in Ikere-Ekiti yesterday by the former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Abiodun Aluko.

Aluko said his support for Fayose was borne out of loyalty to the party and the need for the party to work as a united front for it to clinch the June 21

election in the state.

Aluko, who served as deputy under Fayose, said that President Goodluck Jonathan had also pacified the aggrieved aspirants.

The former deputy governor, who was one of the 13 aggrieved PDP governorship aspirants, said to show his loyalty and support for the party and its candidate, he had to organise a rally in Ikere-Ekiti.

Aluko averred that the party or the presidency did not offer him money to support Fayose, saying, “What I did was to show that I am a loyal party man.

“I am too politically conscious to know that it

is better to be in the PDP, a party that controls the centre and that can be of advantage to the state and my supporters than to defect to the APC”, he said.

He explained that though, he was initially opposed to the candidature of his former boss, he decided to put behind whatever misgiving he had about the primaries out of his immense love for the PDP. The PDP chieftain urged all his supporters across the state to work assiduously for the victory of the party at the poll, assuring that their interests would be protected.

Fayemi promises more projects in rural areas …receives defectors into APC

Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi (right), handing over a broom, the symbol of the All Progressives Congress and armband to Sule Ahmed, who defected to the APC, during an empowerment visit to Ejiko farmstead, in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government of Ekiti State

L-R: Chairman, nuj, Enugu State Council, Mr. Louise Dellibe; Director of Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (Ncc), Mr Tony Ojobo and Head of ncc Media, Mr Rueben Mouka, at a media interactive session in Enugu on Monday

NAN

W

ife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has said that the development of the state’s rural areas and farmsteads is work in progress. She assured the people of more dividends of democracy.

She gave the assurance during her visit to Ejiko and Aba Igbira in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, as well as Asaride Farm, in Ido/Osi LGA in continuation of her empowerment visits to the farmsteads at the weekend.

Already, the governor’s wife has visited 15 farmsteads located in

Ekiti South-West, Ijero, Oye, Ilejemeje, Moba, Irepodun/Ifelodun and Ido/ Osi LGAs. At each stop, she gave out gallons of kerosene, treated mosquito nets, cooking stoves, garri and palm oil processing machines, and other empowerment materials.

Fayemi said that some of the requests of the communities were already being put in place, promising that the Dr. Kayode Fayemi-led administration would continue to address these needs if re-elected in the June 21 election.

Scores of former mem-

bers of the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party in the hamlets took advantage of the visit of the governor’s wife to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Addressing the defectors at Ejiko, the First Lady assured them that they would be given equal treatment and opportunities like the foundation members of the party.

She said, “I congratulate all of you for dumping darkness and coming into light. This is the party that has good plans for citizens, irrespective of age, social class, religion or ethnicity.

... He'll win again – Oyebode

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Former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah (right), receiving the Ikenga Award for Excellence 2014, from former National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Joe Nwodo, at the Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu…yesterday

kiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, will be re-elected for a second term in the June 21 governorship election in the state based on his record of achievements and the transformation his leadership style has brought to the people of the state.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, who made this declaration at a forum in Ido-Ile Ekiti yesterday, said Ekiti people recognise and appreciate good work, as well as good leaders and know how to give appropriate reward.

According to Oyebode, Governor Fayemi has improved the quality of lives of the people and the various communities in the last three and a half years through prudent management of the resources of the state and by being innovative.

He said while other aspirants in the race would be labouring to convince the electorate on their ability, Fayemi’s record of achievements in the areas of education and human capital development; health care delivery; youth, women and com-

munity empowerment; gender empowerment, tourism development; modernised agriculture and the social security scheme would speak for him.

Describing other aspirants as pretenders, Oyebode said Governor Fayemi had raised the bar of governance in the state, adding that the Ekiti people, having tasted massive development by an accountable and compassionate administration, were not prepared to go back to the era of brigandage.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

7

80 jostle for VC jobs at UNN, UniZik VACANCY

From Nsukka to Awka, Enugu to London men and women of letters, even a priest want to go higher Uwakwe Abugu Awka

M

ore than 80 professors from within and outside the country have applied to fill the post of Vice Chancellors in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State and the Nnamdi Azikiwe

University (NAU) also known as UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State. The posts will be vacant in about two months time.

At UNN, the immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Administration, Prof.

Malachy Okwueze, and a female contender, Prof.

Grace Offorma, who is a former member of the university's Governing Council are among some 35 professors who have filed their application papers for the job.

Incumbent Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Bartho Okolo, is billed to hand over to a

successor on June 9, 2014.

And at UNIZIK, the stakes are getting higher as over 40 eggheads filed their application papers in a bid to get the job currently occupied by out-going Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Boniface Egboka.

Like in UNN, hot in the race at UNIZIK are the serving Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of administration, Prof. Greg Nwakobi and immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of academics, Prof. Joe Ahaneku Sources at both federal universities hinted that already, a groundswell of campus politics in view

of the ongoing contest has created a charged atmosphere as the usual perennial campus political blocs are introducing all sorts of manoeuvrings to give advantage to their respective preferred candidates.

It was gathered at both institutions that the next main stage in the processes leading to the emergence of a vice chancellor is the screening of the candidates by a five-man panel headed by the chairman of the respective varsity's governing council, which will eventually elect a vice chancellor.

The five-man committee is made up of three

members, who are not members of the University Senate and two members of the Senate and at UNIZIK, Prof. Amobi Alika and Prof. C. C. Egolum were elected last Tuesday to represent the Senate of the institution While a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Emmanuel Okula is the chairman of UNN's Governing Council, his counterpart of the UNIZIK is Air Vice Marshal(rtd), Larry Koinyan and each of them will take premier position in determining who emerges the new helmsman in each of the two universities in South

East Nigeria.

Other contenders in UNIZIK include former Provost of the College of Medicine of the university, Prof. Okey Ikpeze; a Catholic priest and academic who was once Dean of the Faculty of Arts of the university, Prof. Josephat Oguejiofor; former Dean of Student Affairs of the institution, Prof.

Emeka Ezeonu; Prof. Abel Igbokwe, who is fomer Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences also of the university and Prof. Sunny Nwankwo, who is currently at the University of East London, among others.

Yoruba want restructuring, power devolution – Confab member Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

O

Youths of the Christ Church (Anglican) Agege, Diocese of Lagos West,and the Church elders engaging in a sport, “Tug of war” for the celebration of Easter Monday, at the Church’s premises, in Agege, Lagos...yesterday PHOTO:TONYEGUAYE

303,211

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Angola in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

220m

The total number of internet users of United States in 2008.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Group blames Nigeria’s woes on faulty foundation Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

N

igeria’s wobbly path to nation-building and true democratic culture has been traced to its faulty foundation as a nation in 1914.

This was the position of the Port Harcourt Press Club (PHPC) as expressed in a communiqué from its second session in the Rivers state Capital. The communiqué was signed by Messrs Anayo Onukwugha and Chinedu Karl Uchegbu The body of Journalists,

Communicators and information managers regretted that there was no wide consultation on the over 500 disparate ethnic groups there were lumped together as Nigerians and therefore, their consent was not properly sought. ‘’That is the cause of absence of Nigerian spirit among Nigerian leaders and politicians, who rather have their eyes on the sharing of the national cake than providing good leadership that would guarantee good governance and the fostering of egalitarian society.

20.2

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of China in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

sun State delegate to the National Conference, Chief Gbadegesin Adedeji, at the weekend said that the Yoruba agenda at the conference is about the restructuring of the country and devolution of power.

Speaking with newsmen in Iwo, Adedeji, who was also a Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General in the State, argued that the concentration of power at the centre was wrong and stated that the solution to that is now being discussed at the on-going Confab.

According to him, "The centre is over burdened with too much power and resources. Majority of us at the confab are in support of devolution of powers; that means most Nigerians want more power for the federating units".

"The Yoruba agenda at the conference is mainly devolution of power and restructuring and this has also received support from other regions of the country."

He stressed also that the ongoing debate at the confab will not lead to the disintegration of the country, but rather, will make the country better.

Jonathan gets 2014 Budget today Insecurity hinders Philip Nyam Abuja

A

clean copy of the 2014 Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly two weeks ago would be transmitted to President Goodluck Jonathan today.

This was disclosed yesterday by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa in Abuja.

For the first time in the history of the present democracy, both arms of the National Assembly passed a harmonised

version of the budget thereby forestalling the possibility of constituting a conference committee, which would have further prolonged completion of work on the bill.

The clerk said: "By the grace of God, a clean copy of the bill will be on the President's table today."

Explaining why it took his office this long for a clean copy of the passed bill to be forwarded to the President, the clerk said they wanted to be sure that the document does not contain mistakes.”

good governance – Belgore

Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

O

ne of the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Mr. Dele Belgore yesterday warned that the current insecurity in the northern part of the country cannot allow for good governance.

Belgore, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), said

in a statement that it has, therefore, become necessary for all stakeholders to come together and find a lasting solution to the crisis.

The statement, signed by his media aide, Rafiu Ajakaiye reads: "This is a critical moment in the history of our country. As has been said, no single event has threatened our collective peace and security than the current Boko Haram insurgency currently ravaging some parts of the country.

8

across the nation

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Abia

Bayelsa

UMUAHIA

YENAGOA

Residents happy over Easter carnival Some residents of Umuahia have commended the Abia Government for organising the Easter carnival called the Cantata .

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Cantata carnival, the maiden edition, took place at Umuahia yesterday.

Mr Uche Obioma, a businessman, commended the Abia Government

for organising the event, which he said, made the Easter holiday fun-filled for residents.

Obioma expressed optimism that the carnival would be a regular activity to initiate more “innovative causes” for the development of the state Mrs Oluchi King, a teacher, said that the event had created an opportunity for her to get "first-hand experience of a carnival event".

Rivers PORT-HARCOURT

Amaechi's wife wants better welfare for security operatives The wife of the Rivers State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi yesterday, in Port Harcourt, advocated a proper legislation that will protect and enhance adequate welfare policy of families of security personnel who lost their

lives while on national assignment.

She made the call when she hosted to the chairperson, Police Officers Wives Association POWA and wife of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police Mrs. Chinyere Ogunsakin, who paid her a courtesy visit at Government House.

Ex- militant leader destroys 30 illegal refineries Mr Felix Timilaemi, an ex-militant leader, says he has launched a voluntary campaign against oil theft in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

Timilaemi, who commanded a camp known as Amabulu Federated Community (AFC), said

he had already destroyed 30 illegal refineries and 12 boats used by oil thieves in the area Timilaemi, who conducted newsmen round the destroyed refineries at Ekeremor yesterday, lamented that illegal oil bunkering in the area was causing environmental pollution, with its attendant health hazards.

Niger MINNA

Northern Governors, cattle breeders to meet The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and the Miyetti Allah Fulani Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria will on Thursday, this week meet in Abuja. The meeting is to find solutions to the incessant crises between herdsmen and farmers in the region.

The Forum will also discuss the memorandum

submitted to it by Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, where he raised several concerns about the insurgency in the North.

Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said in Minna yesterday that “the Forum is now in receipt of Nyako’s memo and would look at the concerns raised by Admiral Nyako with a view to addressing the issues.”

Gombe

BENUE

GOMBE

MAKURDI

Deputy Gov. calls for prayers

Group condemns grazing reserves in Benue

The Gombe State Deputy Governor, Mr Tha’anda Rubainu, has enjoined Nigerians to pray fervently for peace and continued stability in the country.

He made the call yesterday during an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe at an Easter prayer rally organised by the State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Rubainu said that this became imperative because of what the country was passing through.

He said prayers were veritable weapon for peace and security, hence Christians should pray without ceasing.

A group under the aegis of the Tyoshin Development Association (TDA), in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, yesterday condemned in strong terms, calls for the establishment of grazing reserves in the state.

Proponents of such reserves say it is a panacea to the conflict between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers.

The group also frowned at the continued sporadic attacks by armed insurgents believed to be Fulani marauders on Tyoshin communities despite the deployment of military men to the area a development which it said has retarded farming activities in the area.

APC crisis: I invested wrongly, says Okorocha Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

F

L-R: Ward head of Boi, Bauchi State, Mr Amos James; District head of Tapshin, Nde David Godit and village head of Nemel Kanke lga, Nde Goshi Deshi, at the 2014 Vih-mah-yah Cultural Festival in Boi Bogoro lga of Bauchi State …at the weekend

APC crisis in Anambra gets messier Uwakwe Abugu Awka

T

he crisis in the Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) is degenerating.

Senator Annie Okonkwo- the National Vice Chairmen for the South East zone of the party, yesterday described the governorship candidate of the party in the state, Senator Chris Ngige as mentally imbalanced.

That is following Ngige’s assertion last week that Okonkwo remains suspended from the party.

Last Thursday, when the party’s local government congresses held in the state, Senator Ngige made assertions which portrayed Okonkwo’s protests over the exercises in the state as a non issue, saying that there was no faction in the party as Senator Okonkwo was alleged to be promoting it.

However, reacting to

Ngige’s posers, Okonkwo contended that there were no congresses of the party that held in the state but an alleged charade organized and propagated by Ngige but that the national leadership and the secretariat of the party had a clear knowledge of what was going on in the state.

He said that after the Easter celebration, the party will organize proper congresses in Anambra where all the stake-

holders will be given a level-playing ground.

Again, while Ngige posited that a panel set up by APC national leadership to investigate Okonkwo has just turned in its report and that the leadership has not looked at it to determine measures to take against his rival, Okonkwo fumed, saying he remained the national vice chairman, South, of APC and saying he was suspended was an untenable assertion.

ollowing the recent media outburst and resignation of the former state Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Prince Marshal Okafor-Anyanwu, the Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha has dismissed the erstwhile chairman as a ‘wrong investment’.

Okorocha, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, stated that the only offence, the governor committed against Okafor-Anyanwu was that the stakeholders and other leaders of the APC in the state had met and decided that since the governor is from Orlu zone, where OkoaforAnyanwu also comes from, the chairmanship of the party should now go to Owerri zone, preferably the Mbaise clan.

Coming from the same governor who had about two weeks ago described zoning as barbaric, OkaforAnyanwu maintains that Governor Okorocha is far from a democrat and speaks from both sides of the mouth.

However, Onwuemeodo also described the former

Chairman as an ingrate saying, “For Okafor-Anyanwu to have gone to the media to cast aspersions on a man that could be seen as his political oxygen, further sustains or promotes the impression perhaps correctly, that most politicians have murdered or seem to have murdered their conscience.

This shows that Governor Okorocha has been investing politically on some of the wrong persons.”

According to Onwuemeodo, who dismissed claims that the governor starved APC of fund, the exit of the Chairman and others like him is answer to the governor’s prayers for the exit of strangers from his administration.

Dismissing the rebuttal, the former chairman said that, “Government can say what they like, but every honest Imo man now knows Governor Rochas Okorocha for what he stands for. He has been inconsistent with the truth, totally averse to due process and legality.

The former chairman, who said he did not have any official vehicle as party chairman, challenged government to present proof of funding the party for the duration in question.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

9

Okei-Odumakin carpets uniformed men over rights’ issues Temitope Ogunbanke

T

he President of Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, has condemned in strong terms, the oppression of non-offending citizens by security operatives in the country.

She said security operatives, including police officers, military officers and others, often use weapons, illegal detention of people to command undue fear even while being callous in their use of power.

Okei-Odumakin, in a statement made available to New Telegraph yesterday, also condemned the disgraceful and disappointing show of power by an officer of the Nigerian Police, Nasir Muhammed, against non-offending citizens, calling for the immediate prosecution of the erring police officer.

She said: “Women Arise is grieved by the increasing spate of horrible, terrible and awkward show of muscle by men in police uniform, lately. We saw the clip of a

disgraceful, disappointing show of power by an officer of the Nigerian Police, identified at first as Tafa Muhammed, against nonoffending citizens.

“We saw with pains, the deployment of state weapon in assaulting unarmed citizens. We observed with despondency, the unwarranted oppression of innocent citizens as depicted in the horrible video, which also involved dipping the victim in muddy water.

“At Women Arise, through diligence, we have located the victims and interviewed them for details of their torturous experience. From our interview of the victims, it is part of our findings that the victims had internal injuries from the torture.

“We also found that the food seller, whose business policy of selling fish only to those that buy food from her, caused the policeman’s unwarranted frenzy, was further illegally detained, after the brutal torture."

2015: Congresses’ll strengthen APC, says party stalwart Joe Obende Warri

A

ll Progressives Congress (APC) big wig Mr. Fidelis Tilije believes the party's nationwide congresses would help to strengthen it for better results in the 2015 general elections.

The former Democratic People Party (DPP) stalwart, who spoke at the weekend while fielding questions from newsmen in his hometown, Obiaruku, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, said the party’s membership, would soar at the end of the congresses.

Tilije, who hails from Delta North senatorial district, said he defected to the APC because of the party’s ideologies, which he said focuses on fairness, equitable distribution of the nation’s wealth, among others.

He said the APC was an extremely reasonable platform for any progressive to be part of, adding that it

could form an alternative government at any point in time in the country.

“In just one week, APC was able to register over 130, 000 members in Delta State, even when there was no structure on ground. I assure you that by the time we concludeourcongressesfromthe wards to the national level, more structures would have been put in place to attract more membership,” he said.

With an eye on the Delta State governorship seat under the APC platform in the 2015 gubernatorial election, Tilije said he wanted to restore the lost moral standards in the state to enable the people enjoy the dividends of democracy.

“Though, I have not officially declared my interest to run for the governorship position in the 2015 election, I assure that would be done very soon and my manifesto would be unveiled before a mammoth crowd,” he promised.

A Cross section of Indigenes and non-indigenes of Osun state boarding the free train ride provided by the government of Osun, back to Lagos State after the Easter celebration, at Osogbo train station…yesterday

N34.8bn

The internally generated revenue of Delta State in 2011.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

77.2

The number of mobile-cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants worldwide in 2010.

Source: Itu.int

155,000

The total number of internet users in the Republic of the Congo in 2008.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Bond: Why my govt’ll continue to borrow – Elechi LOAN

Ebonyi governor goes looking for fund inspite of protest Leo Sobechi

E

bonyi State Governor, Martin Elechi, yesterday gave reasons why his administration will continue to borrow to develop the state, Elechi said borrowing is not a new phenomenon for his administration, despite the noise being made by the opposition.

"My government intends

to go for a bigger debt in addition to the N15 billion bond recently approved by the state House of Assembly."

Elechi’s position was contained in a remark to a cross section of stakeholders in response to strident criticisms by leaders of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), who accused the governor of always borrowing money at the nick of an election to fund his party’s electoral campaigns.

Member representing Ishielu/Ezza North in the House of Representatives, Hon. Peter Edeh, had in an interview with journalists

in Abakaliki, described the N15 billion fresh bond sought by Elechi as an attempt to mortgage the future of Ebonyi citizens.

He said: “We will not accept plunging our people into such avoidable rope of taking N15 billion bond by an administration that has less than a year to wind up.

“We in the APC think that the N15 billion bond is a syndicated fund that the government wants to take at the twilight of the administration.

“It is like a jamboree, particularly worrisome because history wants to repeat itself.

“Recall the timing of

the N16.5 billion the same administration took in 2010, it came towards the very end of the first tenure and that is what the governor wants to do again.

“It is for unholy campaigns, it is a mortgage of the future of our children.

It is atrocious and wicked to mortgage the future of a people in such a way.”

But Governor Elechi told the stakeholders that it would take his successor, four months to clear the repayment of the N16.5 billion he borrowed from the capital market in 2010, adding that the new N15 billion bond, would take the next administration, seven years to pay.

LP, PDP disagree over Mimiko's performance Babatope Okeowo Akure

T

here has been a sharp disagreement between the ruling Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the performance of Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration in the state.

Also, chieftains of the two parties, Muyiwa Asagunla and Hon. Akpoebi

Lubi, disagreed with each other over the future of LP in the state.

While Lubi said Mimiko would be the last governor of LP, considering the poor performance of the party in the state, Asagunla insisted that the governor would not only produce his successor, but would export the party to other parts of the SouthWest, considering his performance in government.

Asagunla, who is a Spe-

cial Assistant to the Governor on Youth Affairs, represented Mimiko at an award ceremony in Ile-Ife, Osun State and submitted that the LP will soon become the only opposition party to reckon with in the country.

He spoke when he was presented with awards along with the governor’s wife, Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko, in recognition of their enormous contribution to youths and students’ development. They bagged the

award of ‘The Person of the Year’ and ‘OAU Alumni of the Year,’ respectively.

Receiving the award on behalf of the governor and his wife, Asagunla affirmed that the state will continue to uphold the interest of the youths and students in its programmes, adding that his administration had been able to bridge the gap between government and students’ organisations.

10 NEWS

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Wike accuses Amaechi of planting moles in PDP TUG-OF-WAR Rivers governor and his ex-loyalist continue to battle over the soul of the state Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

S

upervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, yesterday accused Rivers State governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, of planting moles in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But, he warned the

10.5m

governor and his supporters, who may be planning to come back to the PDP, not to do so through the back door.

Wike was speaking at the first anniversary of the PDP executive in the state, which was held at the 15, 000 capacity Krisdera Stadium in Omoku.

The celebration was marked by an open air church service with processions by each of the 23 local government chapters of the party, showing the strength of the PDP in the state.

Wike continued: “Members of the All

The total population in the city of Moscow, Russia in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Progressives Congress (APC) are interested in what is happening in PDP in this state. They all want to come back to the PDP, but let me warn them; they must follow the proper way or we will throw them out through the window,” he warned.

But, conspicuously absent at the event were several chieftains of the party in the state, including the National Deputy Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; the Minister of Sports, Dr. Tammy Wenike Danagogo and the Executive Director, Finance and Administra-

76%

The percentage by which the reported cases of human African trypanosomiasis decreased from 1999 – 2012.

Source: Who.int

tion in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Henry Ogiri.

Also absent at the event were former governor of the state, Dr. Peter Odili, Senator George Sekibo, former Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Sekibo and Senator Lee Maeba, as well as three gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of the party, Hon. Nimi WalsonJack, Hon. Elemchukwu Ogbowu and Prince Tonye Princewill.

Wike, however, justified the absence of Secondus, Danagogo and Odili, who he said, could not at-

7.69m

The total area (in sq. km) of Australia.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

tend due to their engagements. He added that others chieftains of the party who boycotted the event were moles planted by Amaechi to cause disaffection within the party.”

“We are aware of all those people Amaechi planted in the PDP and we know their movements.

If you look around, they are not here. They claim to be technocrats and know almost everything.

Let them come out and work for the PDP. “They should not stay in their houses and claim that it is their turn to be governor of Rivers State,”

2015: APC chieftain charges members toward victory Temitope Ogunbanke

A

Abia state Governor Theodore Orji (left); Engr. Bath Nwagboso (right), and others after the commissioning/dedication of a storey building of 8 classrooms block at Amakama Central School, built/donated to the State government by Nwagboso…at the weekend

Lateef Ibrahim and Onwuka Nzeshi Abuja

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hairman of the ongoing national conference in Abuja, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, has announced a change of venue for some of the standing committees.

Deliberations of the committees’ level will commence today.

While committees one to ten will hold their sessions at the National Judicial Institute, committees 11 to 20; that were scheduled to sit at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, will now hold their sessions at the NICON Luxury Hotel, near

Confab: Chairman changes sitting venue of committees the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

The change in venue for the second set of committees, according to a statement yesterday by Mr. Akpandem James, Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications, became necessary “when it was obvious that the venue announced earlier will not be available for the number of days envisaged.”

Committees one to ten are the Committees on Devolution of Power;

Political Restructuring and Forms of Government; National Security; Environment; Politics and Governance; Law, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Reform; Social Sector; Transportation; Science Technology and Development and Agriculture.

Committees 11 to 20 are the Committees on Civil Society, Labour and Sports; Public Service; Political Parties and Electoral Matters; Foreign Policy and Electoral

Matters; Land Tenure and National Boundaries; Economy, Trade and Investment; Energy; Religion; Public Finance and Revenue; and Immigration and related matters.

While apologising for the sudden change, Justice Kutigi said coffee and lunch breaks would be observed at the respective venues that the committees will sit. Delegates are enjoined to go straight to their respective venues as they resume from the Easter break.

he said.

He challenged those who are currently angling for power to go down to the local government and wards to build the party and mobilise more for the victory of the party, rather than dissipating energy on and scheming for power.

“What should preoccupy us now is how to rebuild this party and ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan is reelected in 2015,” he said, appealing to party faithful to remain calm, focused and avoid violence and distractions.

n All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Lagos State, Mr. Omodele Morufu, yesterday tasked the party members to put the fallout of the party’s congresses behind them and work toward victory in 2015.

Speaking yesterday during his victory party as chairman of ‘Ward A’ of Agege Local Government Area, Morufu implored all members of the party to sheathe their swords and contribute their quota to APC’s victory in the coming elections.

“Let us make a new start and move forward to meet the great challenges we face in next year’s elections. Let us

build the future together and toast a better life for all Nigerians. We must work as a team to move APC forward.

“By the grace of God, APC will win the forthcoming elections. I will advise all party members to work very hard toward APC’s victory in 2015 in Lagos,” he said.

He also called on party leaders and members to be mindful of mischievous people that may like to truncate internal democracy in the party.

Morufu, while thanking the party members for electing him as ward chairman, pledged to use his strength and ability to live up to expectations of the party members, as well as that of the APC.

Isa Yuguda condoles with Gamawa’s family Yuzarsif Alhassan Bauchi

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auchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, has condoled with the families of his former deputy, Alhaji Babayo Garba Gamawa, the senator representing Bauchi North senatorial districts in the National Assembly, over the death of his father, Alhaji Garba Gamawa.

Malam Yuguda prayed that God, in his infinite mercy, grant him eternal rest while he described

death as inevitable which every soul must taste.

He implored the senator to consider the death of his father as an act of God, praying to Allah to grant him eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

The deceased died and left behind two wives, 11 children and 50 grandchildren, among whom is the Senator Babayo Garba Gamawa, representing Bauchi North in the National Assembly.

NEWS

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

2015: NAWOJ urges women to register Yuzarsif Alhassan Bauchi

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he President of the the National Association of Women Journalists, Dr. Kaltume Ibrahim Shall, yesterday urged women in Bauchi to participate actively in voters registration. She said it was with a view to making a choice of their candidate at the forth coming election in the state.

Kaltume made the call at the northeast women political empowerment programme held at the Development Exchange Centre (DEC) office in Bauchi.

At the gathering, which comprised over 300 women

from across the 20 local government areas of the state, Dr. Shall appealed to them, saying that their participation would help them overcome the challenges woven round them, not only in the state, but the country in general.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Coordinator, North East Women Political Empowerment, Dr. Erisa Danladi, added that the workshop was aimed at empowering and strategically positioning young women to understand why they should actively be part of the electoral processes and decision making in their communities.

Confab member kicks against disintegration Umar Danladi Ado Sokoto

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delegate to the ongoing National Conference, Professor Junaid Sambo, has warned those agitating for the disintegration of the country to desist from such. He said the move will not be in the best interest of Nigerians.

The elder statesman gave the warning while answering questions from newsmen yesterday in Sokoto. He noted that the unity of the country remained the only option needed for the exploitations of the un-

tapped human and natural resources available for the development of the country.

His words: "Nigerians stand to benefit more from each other as the country has been in existing for the last century as a united and federated entity.”

Similarly, the delegate noted that continued existence of Nigeria as a federation with peaceful, mutual co-existence, irrespective of ethnic or religious differences is more paramount than thinking or working towards the disintegration of the nation.

Construction of damaged transmission bye-pass commences James Nwabueze Abuja

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he Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said it has mobilised to site necessary materials for the construction of a transmission bye-pass which would temporarily replace the 132KV transmission line from Tegina to Kotangora in Niger State.

The transmission bypass was destroyed by rainstorm last Friday, throwing into darkness several cities including Meriga, Tegina, Birinin Gwari as well as Kotangora and Yawuri.

However, in a statement signed by the Assistant General Manager (Public Affairs), Dave Ifabiyi, TCN said its engineers had detected the fault area on the line and has promptly isolated the defective axis of the 132 KV transmission line from Tegina to Kotangora and has re-energised the line from Shiroro to Tegina.

“Detecting the fault area on the line, TCN line engineers promptly isolated the defective axis of the 132 KV transmission line from Tegina to Kotangora and re-energized the line from Shiroro to Tegina.”

SHOWDOWN

Lawmakers plan to reject extension of state emergency in three states as it has not achieved its aim

Hassan Jirgi Damaturu

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ome prominent members of the affected states have expressed their opposition to the extension of the state of emergency imposed on the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The state of emergency in the states was first declared in May 2013 for

7.69

11

Yobe leaders oppose emergency extension an initial period of six months and was extended for another six months following approval by the National Assembly.

Sources close to the Federal Government said it is yet to formally send a request to the National Assembly for another extension of six months.

But some lawmakers from both chambers believe that they will not endorse the extension should President Jonathan send a request to that effect.

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of South Africa in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

Some members of the House of Representatives, who spoke with New Telegraph, said the emergency rule should not be extended because it has not achieved the desired result. Sama,ila Ahmed Gadaka, APC Yobe, said “Why should I support it?

What have they been able to achieve within the last one and half years of the state of emergency? Was it not recently that people were killed, school students were abducted? Just

22.4%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Bolivia in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

Kids on horse-riding at Rosellas Amusement Park, Isheri Alimosho in Lagos…yesterday.

look at the level of killings going on in those emergency states. It is as if there's nothing an ground.”

According to the Special Adviser to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam on Political Matters, Alhaji Mai Mala Gujba, " If there is no peace in the north-east, it means there is no peace in any part of Nigeria."

He added: “We are part of the whole called Nigeria.

If you talk about Nigeria, some countries say there is no peace in Nigeria.”

99%

The percentage by which the number of new cases of dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) since 1989.

Source: Who.int

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

2015: My successor must be corrupt-free, God fearing - Suswam Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

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overnor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, yesterday warned that only a corrupt- free and God-fearing person will succeed him in 2015.

The governor's position came few hours after the Benue Integrity Group (BIG) commenced the grilling of gubernatorial aspirants on planned policies and programmes if elected ahead next year’s general election.

Suswam, who spoke on Harvest FM Radio,

yesterday in Makurdi, stated that the endemic corruption and greed ravaging the society today was because most elected leaders are corrupt and not God-fearing, insisting that non-God-fearing leaders embezzle public funds.

He tasked Benue electorate to be careful with the calibre of people that approach them seeking their votes, and further debunked the rumour that he has anointed a particular aspirant as 'government candidate', and tasked all aspirants to sell themselves to the people.

"I would like to have the governor, who would succeed me with just one quality-he must be a Godfearing person. If you are a God-fearing person, you will not embezzle people’s money; you will not engage in diabolical tendencies; you will not go out to undermine the people that you represent".

"And I want the people of Benue State to be careful in electing people to represent or govern them, and you know as usual, in Benue politics, by now, you should have been hearing stories that this is Sus-

wam's candidate. But you will not hear that. It is not an express thing because we want the people of Benue State to look at the people and their antecedents and make a right choice".

"People are contesting from zones A, B and C, but at the end of the day, we will sit down together and say look, the position is going here and even when we decide that it's going to a particular place, people from other places will not agree that they have constitutional right to contest."

metr Ritual: 17 arrested as mob NEW TELEGRAPH

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ABIODUN BELLO

FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

tuesday, April 22, 2014

Sanctity

Tuesday, Ap

DPOs

RANDY COP

It is a common heading police rape detainees relatives, polic

0802 393 8212

attacks suspected den

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

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here was pandemonium yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as a mob attempted to set ablaze a two-storey building which was suspected to be a ritual killers’ den.

The house, located at No. 30 CDA Asipa Street, Ijaiye, Abeokuta and owned by a retired deputy superintendent of police, was invaded by hundreds of angry youths who were promptly dispersed by armed policemen.

At the end of the confusion, which turned out to have been ignited by a false alarm, the police arrested 17 people.

It was learnt that rumour about a suspected ritual killers’ house with human parts had spread rapidly in Ijaiye area of Abeokuta, prompting policemen, officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Vigilante Service of Ogun State (VSCO) to mobilise to the area.

Witnesses said nothing incriminating was found after a thorough search of the house, though the owner and other occupants were reportedly not

around.

But it was gathered that some youths, who were still not satisfied, vandalised the house and attempted to set it on fire.

In a statement, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, said the incident was uncalled for and criminal in nature, warning the public to desist from such.

Adejobi, a deputy superintendent of police, disclosed that 17 suspects were arrested in connection with the incident and would be charged to court.

The PPRO also deplored the “jungle justice” meted out to two “mad men” in Enugada and Lafenwa areas of Abeokuta yesterday before they were rescued by policemen.

He said: “This is pure jungle justice and it is unacceptable as it will not help the police in their investigation; and a gross violation of people’s fundamental human rights.

“Even if such suspects are noticed or apprehended, members of the public are expected to hand them over to the police for thorough investigation.

“The attention of the Ogun State Police Command has been drawn to

with (exotic) cars who are always Umar Manko, Lagos wrongly alleged of child stealing Juliana Franci or ritual killing which make some hoodlums wound and eventually extort them and damage their vehicles. he Division charge of O “For instance, the attempted attack on a house allegedly used as perintende ritual killers’ den at No 30 CDA Awe, who is be Asipa Street, Ijaiye, Abeokuta today edly raping a d (Monday) 21st April at about 1000hrs was uncalled for and criminal in nature.”

Adejobi said the prompt intervention of the policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Tony Anicheb Oke Itoku Division saved the house Uyo of an innocent individual from being burnt by some hoodlums. middle-ag as Mr An He said: “After the intervention of some community leaders includedly stabb ing the Balogun of Ijaiye and even at the weekend the Secretary to the State Govern- pay a N150,000 ment, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, The inciden who came to assess the situation on at night on O the directive of the Governor, Sena- Akpan Avenue tor Ibikunle Amosun, and thorough State capital, search of the said house by the police, dents of the ar It was gathe high chiefs of the area and representatives of the youth, some miscreants be-identified c still attacked the police with a view to turbing Okon But unable gain entrance into the said house to loot the property therein and set the ed to take his l house ablaze.” harassment.

T

Man c

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Okoye Ikemefuna, Ogun CP

the way some members of the public attack certain individuals with frivolous allegations of kidnap and child stealing/ritual killings in Abeokuta and major cities in Ogun State.

“The command is not comfortable with these cases of attack on persons of unsound minds and those

Residents bemoan gridlock over Nyanya checkpo Anule Emmanuel Abuja

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he residents of Abuja playing the Nyanya - Keffi Road have cried out over gridlock caused by checkpoint mounted by soldiers.

The traffic jam started since Thursday last week, following the bomb blast Nyanya Motor Park on the road.

Some commuters and motorists who were caught in the gridlock yesterday were those heading into Abuja city centre for Easter church services.

Most of them reside in areas like Karu, Nyanya, Jikwoyi, Kurudu, Mararaba, New Nyanya and Masaka among other satellite towns.

The traffic jam spread from the

expressway into inner roads in Karu.

Stern-looking soldiers deployed after the Nyanya bomb blast blocked the traffic inward Abuja, leaving only one lane open.

One of the motorists trapped in the traffic jam, Mr. Eugene Igbudu, told our correspondent that it was unfortunate that such hardship could be unleashed on innocent Nigerians.

He wondered what would happen on the road when workers resume work today, if the traffic jam could be that serious yesterday, being a public holiday.

Another motorist, Joseph Chiahemba, said “on the day they started (Thursday), I left my house in New Nyanya at 8am for work and

I did not get to the city centre until 3pm”.

Senator Philip Aduda, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), told State House corresponds at the weekend that he had taken up the issue with President Goodluck Jonathan.

Aduda was at the Presidential Villa during a visit of a delegation of Abuja residents to the President during the Easter celebration.

He expressed the belief that Jonathan would address the situation soon.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Muhammed, also confirmed that he had received numerous complaints on the issue and promised that something would be done about it.

File picture of the Nyanya blast

S’East governors’ ambition, term limit for federal lawmakers heighten polity / PAGE 14-15

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH

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By-election: Mimiko squares up against PDP

ayodele Ojo

Deputy Editor, politics

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

p-16

TUESday, April 22, 2014

North-East on threshold of exclusion

FELIX NWANERI writes on the uproar over the proposal that the north eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe that are mostly affected by the Boko Haram insurgency be excluded from the 2015 elections.

it or postpone it,” Jega said, adding: “Ideally, you cannot conduct election under a period of emergency.”

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ormer Kano State governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, seems to have stirred the hornets’ nest with his comment that the security of lives and property is more important than any election in the NorthEast geo-political zone of the country in the 2015 general polls.

The former governor, who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told journalists after his recent meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan that governors of the zone should work closely with the Federal Government to bring the needed peace in the area, as only such will guarantee the conduct of elections in the area in 2015.

Shekarau, who responded to questions over the feasibility of elections in the three states, said: “I still believe that it is going to largely be based on practical security reports on ground.

If there are threats to lives, who are you going to govern even if you win the election? So, it is not safe and I don’t see anybody spitting fire on it.”

He added: “As a democrat, I always insist that let there be elections to allow people to decide their fate, but this does not necessarily mean we conduct elections under a volatile situations. The truth is that let the state governors, the Federal Government and all concerned join hands together and assess the situation. What will the Federal Government gain or INEC (Independent National Electoral

Jega

Shettima

Commission) gain if they don’t conduct elections in any state?

But if it is in the interest of the public, the life and security of the people are far more important than any election that you can think of.”

Three of the six states in the zone – Adamawa, Borno and Yobe are the hardest hit by the Boko Haram insurgency, and have been under emergency rule since May 14, 2013.

Initially meant to last for six months, the emergency rule was extended by the National Assembly, on the President’s request, by another six months, which lapsed on April 19.

Already, there are indications that the President will return to the National Assembly after the Easter break to formally apply for another extension of the

emergency rule. But should the legislators fail the extension, the Federal Government may be forced to explore options under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013.

There has been a lot of resistance from political leaders in the zone and the main opposition political party –APC to the plan to extend the emergency rule. While the zone’s political class believes that there is no need for the extension, the APC, which controls the three affected states alleges political undertone.

Early doubt INEC was the first to raise an

early doubt over the possibility of the strife-torn states of the North-East being part of the 2015 elections.

The commission’s chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who made the disclosure in December last year at a stakeholders’ hearing organised by the Senate Committee on INEC, said that unless security situation changes in the zone, the commission would not conduct elections in the affected states.

“It is my hope that the challenges in the North-East will be resolved before 2015. If the security is such that we cannot hold election, then we may need to fall back on the law to suspend

CROSSFIRE I regret voting President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, as he has done nothing to move the nation forward...corruption, insecurity and embezzlement of funds have been on the increase -Rabiu Kwankwaso

Kwankwaso did not vote for me... When it was clear at Eagles square that I will emerge Kwankwaso left the venue. If Kwankwaso had voted for me, he would have stayed to celebrate with me with the other governors -Goodluck Jonathan

Proving doubters’ wrong The security worry was however allayed by Yobe on December 28, 2013 when the state, not only conducted local government poll that ushered in new council chairmen and councillors into office, but made a statement that the 2015 general elections can indeed hold in the state with the peaceful conduct of the council election.

Contrary to expectation, the poll witnessed massive turnout, as residents turned out in their numbers across the state with no report of election-related or any other violence during and after the election.

The APC, in a reaction then, hailed Governor Ibrahim Geidam and the people of the state for the peaceful and hitchfree conduct of the election and charged INEC to borrow a leaf from the Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission (YSIEC) on how to organise elections, having bungled the two elections it conducted earlier in Delta and Anambra states.

The party, through its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the poll showed that the only impediment to the conduct of elections in the affected states is a Federal Government that has ulterior motives and one that is mortally afraid of its own shadows, as well as a conniving INEC that is independent only in name.

No to postponement Convincing as the argument of INEC then and Shekarau’s recent position on holding elections in the three north eastern states sounded, their governors – Kashim Shettima (Borno), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Geidam (Yobe) recently insisted that elections in the zone in 2015 is not debatable.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

14 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

South-East governors’ ambition, term limit The quest of governors in the South-East to take a shot at the Senate in 2015 and at the same time set a term limit for National Assembly members from the zone is heating up the zone’s polity. LEO SOBECHI reports

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ifferent sounds of war drums are being beaten indicating the likely temper of the 2015 general elections. Apart from the presidency which has long been billed as the major bout, recent developments from some states point to the possibility of senatorial seats ranking above gubernatorial contests as sure bets for stiff confrontations. Various indicators point to the possibility of heightened contest for senatorial tickets in 2015 especially within the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the South-East geo-political zone.

A kind of ‘turn by turn’ exists among many communities and zones in virtually all the states of the South-East. The zone has a high turnover of senators.

During the build-up of the 2003 elections when state governors assumed the status of tin gods, especially in PDP controlled states, the main prerequisite for accessing the party’s ticket to the National Assembly was blind loyalty. To some extent, the ferocious supremacy battle between the then Ebonyi State Governor, Dr. Sam Egwu and members of the National Assembly from the state led by the erstwhile Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, frightened other state governors.

Most observers of the South-East ‘sorry situation’ argue that the lack of discernible ideological pattern by the zone, nay PDP; disposed the leaders to the false belief that “anybody can go there”.

Former Enugu State Governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, was quoted as saying that “nominating candidates with obvious lack of capacity or personal initiative to the National Assembly, serves dual purposes: when issues that require voting crops up they seek your input but most importantly, they cannot have the stomach to cause any problem.” Nnamani must have been moved to adopt that position after his own representative, former old Anambra State governor, Jim Nwobodo, led the attempt to remove him (Nnamani) from office through impeachment.

Except Anambra, Imo and Ebonyi, the other two South-East states of Enugu and Abia have the burden of recurrent senators.

But what makes South-East interesting, as 2015 approaches is that the three PDP governors in the zone, Sullivan Chime, Theodore Orji (Abia) and Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), are contending with the lure of a stint at the Senate as their tenures run full course in 2015. It is partly this interest by the governors to run for Senate seats that has raised concerns for and stakes in the 2015 elections in the zone. In Enugu and Ebonyi, the setting of term limits for legislators despite the silence of Nigeria’s Constitution, is aimed

Chime

Ekweremadu

at ensuring the distribution of economic and other perks that pertain to the occupation of legislative seats. This issue of term limitation is especially for those in the National Assembly where the jumbo pay package has become the major incentive for stiff competition.

Enugu: Sullivan, Ekweremadu tangle Perhaps the position by Governor Chime that serving members of the National Assembly that have enjoyed two terms should not dream for another term, brought the unfolding concerns about term limits to the front burner of national discourse. The governor was quoted to have said that he would resign as governor even if the constitution was amended beyond 2015 to contest for the Senate position of Enugu West under the platform of the PDP. The Enugu West senatorial seat is currently being occupied by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who has interest for a record fourth term in the Senate.

In a remark during a courtesy visit of members of a socio-political pressure group, Enugu Unity Forum, (EUF) at the Government House, Enugu; Chime was said to have asserted that he wants to teach serving National Assembly members how to wind down, since they could not do that on their own.

Declaring his intention to run for the senatorial position of Enugu West, Chime stressed: “Since a good number

Orji

Since a good number of them were allegedly agitating and indirectly resisting the earlier accord at the state PDP caucus, I want to teach them how to wind down, even if it means dropping the governorship, I can risk it to contest the senatorial position of them were allegedly agitating and indirectly resisting the earlier accord at the state PDP caucus, I want to teach them how to wind down, even if it means dropping the governorship, I can risk it to contest the senatorial position.”

Ever since Chime took the stand on term limit for the legislators, the relationship between the governor and the NASS members has nose-dived. The political space in Enugu became charged with some supporters lining behind the two leaders. Supporters of the Deputy President of Senate hold the view that Chime’s stand was to ensure his passage to the Senate was smooth and that none of the old members should diminish his standing in the Senate on the basis of ranking. But the governor has insisted that there was an understanding to that effect. Even the former President of Senate, Ken Nnamani backed the governor, saying that the state has no need for tension and recriminations over political positions. What has tended to accentuate the term limit as espoused by Chime is the fact that he is angling to take over from Ekweremadu.

Ekweremadu has been the occupant of the Enugu West Senatorial seat at the Senate in the past 11 years. Watchers of Enugu politics say it must be out of political expediency that Chime did not move against the Deputy President of Senate in 2011 when he was rounding off the agreed two terms. Apart from the possibility that Ekweremadu may have sided with Chime to do the duel against former PDP National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, so as to curtail the capacity of the Nwodo to position for a possible shot at the presidency, prevailing circumstances suggest

Elechi

Nwagu

that the collaboration against Nwodo was to divert attention from the expiration of his stint at the Senate.

But now the chickens have come back to roost! Ekweremadu, having crossed the ‘red line’ of term limit, does not want to be ‘idle’ in 2015. As such, if Chime has indicated interest to supplant him at the red chamber, then there is constitutional impediment to an ambition to be governor of Enugu State. Here again, the scenario building from the Ekweremadu camp, which prescribes that if Chime must insist on zoning the governorship to Enugu North Senatorial District, he should abandon his senatorial ambition.

This now describes the tension in the Coal City State.

In an interview with New Telegraph, Secretary General of Enugu Unity Forum, (EUF), Dr. Chuka Ezema, dismissed the attempt to draw a nexus between the zoning of the governorship to Enugu North Senatorial District and the contest for Enugu West senatorial seat. Ezema stated: “It is wrong ab initio, trying to lump the two together; the decision to zone the governorship to Enugu North is a sound one and he (Chime) should be complimented for taking such a stand. I know that if he thought otherwise, it would have been easier for him; if he wanted to give his brother the governorship so that he could have a smooth sail to the Senate that would have been a grievous mistake.”

In the unfolding battle of supremacy, Ekweremadu is said to have recruited former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani so that opposition against Chime could come from all corners especially through the Ebeano political group founded by the

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

15

for federal lawmakers heighten polity former governor. But not to be outsmarted in the intrigues, Chime has received the backing of Nwobodo and Nnamani.

Nwodo also has overlooked the gang up against him and identified with Chime, if for nothing else for the sagacity of zoning the governor to his Nsukka zone.

But most members of the National Assembly from the state are lining behind Ekweremadu. How this plays out in the end is left for 2015 to tell.

Ebonyi: Elechi’s shadowy interest Early this year, leaders of Ebonyi Youth Assembly, including Comrade Chinedu Ogah, Chris Usulor, Oliver Nwachukwu and Emmanuel Kanandu took the members of the association as well as those of Ebonyi Women Assembly, to pay a courtesy visit on Governor Elechi.

In his speech on the occasion, President of EYA, Ogah told Elechi that the purpose of their visit was to inform him that they have resolved to conscript him into the senatorial race for Ebonyi Central seat in 2015. He added that EYA would in line with that resolution; purchase the nomination form for the governor to contest the senatorial election on the platform of the PDP. It was with affected modesty and bashful glee that Elechi responded to the remarks of the youth leaders. He thanked his visitors and said that God was in what they were doing, stressing though that the time was not yet ripe to respond to their request since, according to him, he was still in the midst of another assignment thrust on him.

Those who criticised Ogah and his group asked rhetorically why they were not nominating their fathers to contest for the senatorial seat. Other youth who pooh-poohed the opportunistic political altruism by EYA say if Elechi was serious about conceding to the demand, he should support his eldest son, Prince Elechi Elechi to contest the Senate seat.

In the build up to the 2011 election, Elechi showed active interest in seeing to it that Senator Emmanuel Onwe, from his Ikwo clan, did not make it back to the Senate. Presently the decision to zone the Senate seat away to the Ezza clan is being seen as a calculated scheme to accommodate the governor’s interest in the seat. Consequently, youths from Ikwo are sulking silently that nothing but disgrace would await the governor if he dares contest the Senate seat. Those who are currently asking what Elechi wants to go to the Senate to do claim that the experience of current PDP National Chairman in Bauchi when he lost his Senate chase in 2007 should remind the Ebonyi chief executive of the vanity of his ambition.

And as if it to raise the stakes higher, the incumbent senator occupying the Ebonyi Central Senatorial seat, Paulinus Igwe Nwagu, has been encouraging the subtle opposition to Elechi’s interest in the seat. While mobilising support within his constituency, Nwagu is said to be

Ihedioha

Abaribe

If there is any governor(s), who set limits as you said, it is probably because they bow to the prevalent convention of zoning and ‘turn by turn’ rotation of officers. I consider this unfortunate

Onuoha-Boudex

building structures for a possible shot at the governorship contest. The senator is reported to have told his cronies that if truly Elechi wants the Senate seat, all that the governor needs do is to support his interest in the governorship.

Sources confided in New Telegraph that it was in a bid to curtail the damage potential of Igwe, the member representing Ezza East in the State House of Assembly, Usulor, is being considered for prominent roles so that even if Nwagu defects to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as he is said to threaten if forced out of PDP, Usulor could be used to stabilise the Ezza axis of the senatorial district.

For now, how Elechi responds to the attraction of the Senate seat, would determine how real his attitudinal change mantra is. Will the governor fall for political greed or heed the call to play the statesman? That is a question which only Elechi could answer soon.

Abia: Orji’s sweet temptations In Abia, everything seems to be turning around well for Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji. T. A, as his admirers call him, wants to represent Abia Central Senatorial District in the Senate. Luckily for him, the incumbent Senator, Mrs. Nkeji Nwaogu, gave him much news to cheer when she indicated that she would not seek another term.

Like other retiring ranking senators, Nwaogu announced her decision to run for the governorship seat in the state.

She visited the PDP state secretariat in Umuahia and reiterated her decision to avoid further interest in the Senate, pointing out that she had come to the

party headquarters to announce her new aspiration.

Nwaogu must have set the ball rolling for Governor Orji, who secretly wishes that no ranking senator contests the election with him come 2015. The senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, caught the bud when he announced his interest in the governorship contest.

There has been a semantics contest for the issue of zoning in Abia. While the people of Abia South, contend that their zone was primed to produce the next governor, some revisionists claim that no such senatorial zone rotation exists for power sharing in the state. Consequently, this school of thought points to the alphabetical order of clans as the right basis of power distribution that preceded the present configuration of Abia State.

But a great number of Abians claim that power was due to move down south.

And it is this understanding that gives Senator Abaribe the latitude to run and become the governor. Former President of World Igbo Congress (WIC), Dr. Kalu Kalu Diogu, told journalists in Enugu that but for the decision of the stakeholders that power should go Abia South; he would have indicated interest in the governorship. He stated that Abaribe was better placed therefore to run for the governorship alongside a running mate from Abia North Senatorial District.

If the scenario is clear for the senatorial seats in Abia Central and South, the North is where there may be some challenges. Senator Uche Chukwumerije has been representing the zone meritoriously for quite some time. In the last 11 years, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Education; has been holding sway. It is not clear where his political compass will point to in 2015. Despite his yet unspoken ambition, sources disclosed that Gover-

nor Orji has been considering which of his two friends, Mao Ohuabunwa and Dr. David Ogba Onuoha-Bourdex, should replace ‘Isikaraka’ Chukwumerije at the Senate. “To settle the dilemma, the governor nominated Mao for the ongoing national conference so that Bourdex could go to the Senate. Bourdex has shown enormous capacity and preparedness to fill the big shoes to be left by Chukwumerije,” a source hinted.

On the attempt to set term limits for NASS legislators in South-East, OnuohaBourdex told journalists not long ago that one does not need eternity to make a difference in the Senate.

Chukwumerije agrees that legislation is like wine. He noted that the longer a conscientious legislator stays in office, the more productive he/she becomes and the more beneficial to his or her constituency and the general quality of legislation.

“This is probably why in older democracies like USA and Britain, the only limit to the length of stewardship of a legislator is the wish of the electorate,” he added.

Decrying the low level of consultation between legislators and their constituents, Chukwumerije declared: “If there is any governor(s), who set limits as you said, it is probably because they bow to the prevalent convention of zoning and ‘turn by turn’ rotation of officers. I consider this unfortunate. Experience and expertise suffer. One must however understand and to some extent concede the validity of some of the prevailing mealy-mouthed misconception in our fledgling democracy.”

Perhaps it is on account of the disagreements over the issue of term limits for legislators that a constitutional lawyer, Chief Anthony Agbazuere, warned against any form of imposition of candidates, stressing that such could spell doom for PDP. On the recycling of legislators, Agbazuere, who is also a stalwart of PDP in Abia, asserted: “PDP will lose public sympathy as most of the NASS members are already spent forces, who have long lost their legitimacy”.

Imo: Hard choices In Imo State, Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has indicated his desire to quit the Green Chamber in 2015 after 12 years to try his luck in the governorship. Having created a lee way for the people of Ngor Okpuala to have a taste of representation in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, Ihedioha must have solved the puzzle of recurrent legislators but all eyes would be on the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodimma.

Whether the senator could make it back to the Red Chamber depends on how former Governor Achike Udenwa resolves his ambition to go to the Senate.

Imo State would however prove a footnote on the raging controversy over state governors and recurrent legislators. Imo State governor does not belong to the PDP and has no senator under his party’s platform.

16 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

By-election: Mimiko squares up against PDP The April 5 by-election in Ilaje/ Eseodo federal constituency of Ondo State is generating so much heat between the ruling Labour Party (LP) and the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Babatope Okeowo reports on the ripples the poll has generated in the state.

T

he new grammar in the political lexicon in Ondo State is ‘inconclusive’. This came about in the April 5 by-election in the Ilaje/Eseodo federal constituency which was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The controversy over the inconclusiveness of the election was so extensive that the stakeholders’ meeting called by the electoral umpire to find solution to it also ended inconclusive as major political gladiators walked away without reaching a compromise.

Since April 6, when INEC said the election that was conducted a day earlier was inconclusive, the Labour Party (LP) and the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been at loggerheads on whether or not the election should be conducted.

While the LP leading with about 1,300 votes wanted the result of the election announced, the rival PDP wants supplementary elections where the election could not hold.

The INEC Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Babatunde Adeyemi had invoked Section 36 of the 2010 Electoral Act which empowers the electoral body to declare election inconclusive and order for supplementary election in areas where election could not hold.

There have been four by-elections in the state since Dr. Olusegun Mimiko became the governor five years ago with the ruling LP winning three, without any controversy as to the winner of the election. Shortly after his inauguration as governor, there was a by-election in Akure North Local Government, which was followed by that of Akoko South East South West federal constituency and later that of Ilaje Constituency 1 election. The LP won the by-elections and later went ahead to win the general election of 2011 and the governorship election of 2012.

But the Ilaje/Eseodo federal constituency by-election is proving a difficult nut for LP to crack as the party’s candidate, Kolade Akinjo, could not be declared the winner of the election despite the fact that he was leading his closest challenger and the candidate of the PDP, Adewale Kukute by 1,298 votes. The authenticated results showed the APC scoring 9,232, the LP, 23,926 and the PDP 22,628.

Inconclusive election The INEC invoked section 36 of the Electoral Act which stipulates that: “Where a date has been appointed for the holding of election and there is a reason to believe that a serious breach of the

Mimiko

peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded with on that day or it is impossible to conduct the elections as a result of natural disasters or other emergencies, the commission may postpone the election and shall in respect of the area concerned, appoint another date for the holding of the postponed election, provide that such reason for the postponement is cogent and verifiable.”

Prof. Adeyemi stated at the Constituency Collation Centre at Igbokoda headquarters of Ilaje Local Government that the decision to declare the poll inconclusive was hinged on the fact that the difference between the winner and the runner up was far less than the number of cancelled votes.

He pointed out that over 7,000 voters could not participate in the election and that the development “violated the Electoral Act and hence the need for INEC to conduct supplementary elections in areas where elections could not hold. I cannot return the LP candidate despite polling the highest number of votes as the electoral law empowers INEC to declare such elections inconclusive.”

The next battle The announcement by the Returning Officer had sent both the LP and the PDP into the trenches as the two political parties are planning strategies over the election. The PDP wants a date for the supplementary election while the rival LP has gone to court to stall the election and asked for an order of mandamus to declare the candidate of the party the winner of the election.

The Federal High Court has fixed the hearing of the suit to May 19.

In order to find a solution, INEC called a stakeholders’ meeting which in itself was inconclusive. The meeting was attended by representatives of all the political parties that participated in the poll, heads of security agencies, the media and officials of INEC, who could not agree on any date because of the inability of the parties to agree to the holding

Oke

The entirety of this tale is not only untrue but a deliberate mischief by frustrated politicians and the intemperate REC of the election.

At the meeting, the PDP said it was ready for the election which INEC said would hold in 59 units, the LP urged the electoral umpire to either announce the leading candidate as the winner or stay action on the matter since it has approached an Akure Federal High Court for the resolution of the matter.

Stakeholders’ meeting, minister’s indictment The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Akin Orebiyi, who had a hectic time controlling the charged meeting said, “you politicians are the problems of our electoral system because you are holding the country to ransom. Had you allowed the process to be successfully conducted as we have put in painstaking preparations, we would have had a good outing.”

He, therefore, announced that the meeting would reconvene this week Wednesday with all the stakeholders to continue the discussions and that “if at that time, we have been served the papers of the court action instituted by the LP, which we are going to respond to anyway, we will know the next step to take.”

The REC also indicted the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, saying there were reports that he was in the state during the election and used the military to intimidate voters.

Orebiyi particularly said he had evidence that Obanikoro violated the Electoral Act using his position as minister.

But the PDP and its 2012 governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke rose in defence of the minister. He said the REC was speaking the mind of Governor Mimiko and that of LP as the minister or any national officer of the party was not in the state during the election.

Oke said: “The entirety of this tale is not only untrue but a deliberate mischief by frustrated politicians and the intemperate REC to tarnish the integrity and reputation of the Honourable Minister, the Nigerian Military and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria. I personally find it appalling, shameful and very demeaning that a governor of a state should resort to manufacturing wicked lies, manipulating obvious facts, sponsoring hate and mischief in hope of hoodwinking and corrupting the public’s perception.

“Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as a responsible and esteemed leader of our party joined other leaders on the campaign train of our party to Ajapa and Arogbo areas of Ese-Odo Local Government on Thursday April 3 (two clear days before the election) just as PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh led our party’s National delegation to the grand rally at Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area, four days earlier. After participating in the rally which lasted till late evening, the minister left Ondo State very early Friday morning, one clear day before the election.”

Why the fuss?

The question agitating the minds of the people of the state is why should there be so much dispute over an election whose winner has less than one and half years to spend? This is an election whose winner has no privileged of seeking a second term in office because of the gentleman’s arrangement between the two local governments that make of the constituency.

The thinking in some political quarters is that the dispute is about who controls the state politics and by extension the South-West between the Mimiko-led LP and the mainstream PDP ahead of the 2015 elections. It is no longer news that Mimiko and the former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel among others are trying to create a third force in the geo-political zone.

The mainstream PDP has a point to prove in the election by showing that it still controls the politics of the SouthWest and do not need a third force before it could win for the party in the 2015 general elections. The LP on its own is of the opinion that it could use Mimiko as arrowhead for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan and thereby control the fund for the election.

No end to deadlock For now, the deadlock over the election continues as the LP insists that its candidate must be declared winner while the PDP is insisting on a supplementary election.

Now that the case has moved from court of public opinion to court of law, the people of the state are waiting for the outcome of the macabre dance between the two political parties and dramatis personnel. Whether or not the election will be determined by the ballot or court of law is a matter of days.

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

The congresses so far held by the All Progressives Congress (APC) have opened up an internal crisis within the party.

YEKEEN NURUDEEN reports that the outcome and handling of the congresses’ fallout have the potential to negatively affects the chances of the party in the 2015 elections

APC ward congress: A signpost to future elections?

I

f reports from the recently concluded ward congresses conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) are anything to go by, then the party which prides itself as the alternative to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has a long way to go.

The ruling party had described APC ward congress as a disgrace to democracy in the country, asking the leadership of the opposition party to come for electoral tutorial.

Though the leadership of the party described the ward congresses as huge success, various hues and cries that trailed the conduct of the congresses pointed to the contrary and left much to be desired.

According to the National Organising Secretary of the party, Senator Osita Izunaso, the congresses were not marred by violence or any irregularity even as he admitted that there were hitches here and there.

In an interview with New Telegraph, Izunaso said the party was getting positive reports from all the six geo-political zones of the country about the congress.

“We are very impressed with our party membership the way they have conducted themselves in the various states.

We are very impressed with those we sent out. We are getting positive reports, from the South South, South-West, North Central, North-West; positive report. People who are thinking we are going to fail are shocked by our not failing. That’s describing success as failure,” he said.

Sharing Izunaso’s optimism is Governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko who also told New Telegraph that APC is a party to beat and the party for all Nigerians as the ruling party has outlived its usefulness.

He said: “We need a change, even in a civilised world, no party can rule for life like one of the chairmen of PDP was saying that they are going to rule Nigeria for 60 or 70 years.”

Despite their optimism, the future success of APC depends to a very large extent on the outcome of its ward congresses which have been characterised by irregularities and controversies.

From Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Rivers, to Kaduna and other states of the federation, it was tales of irregularities.

For instance, in Lagos State, protesting members of the party from Somolu Local Government Area stormed the state’s Government House over an alleged plan by a serving commissioner to upturn the result of ward congress.

The state’s ward congress was conducted on April 5 but the angry protesters claimed that two months before the

Akande

Kaka

election, the Somolu APC leadership had invited the commissioner to four pre-ward congress election meetings, to decide key issues that could mar the election, but that he failed to turn up.

On the eve of the election, the protesters alleged that the commissioner invited APC leadership in the council for a peace meeting. At the meeting, he was alleged to have demanded that candidates for the executive post in the eight wards be selected rather than elected.

Similarly, there were parallel congresses in Ogun as loyalists of Governor Ibikunle Amosun and those of former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba went separate ways in the conduct of the congress.

The parallel congresses were an indication that all is not well among the party leaders in the state. Prior to the day of the congress, APC National Assembly caucus from the state had described the party’s local congresses as exercise in futility in the state.

But Amosun, who hailed the exercise, said he was not aware of a parallel congress in the state.

The Congress Committee sent by the party’s national leadership from Abuja had announced that the exercise would commence by 10a.m. but in most of the local government areas, it did not start until after noon.

The late kick-off was experienced in Abeokuta South, Ifo and Abeokuta North in Ogun Central and Remo North, Ijebu North, Ijebu East and Ijebu Ode local gov-

Amosun

Oshiomhole

ernment areas in Ogun East Senatorial District and Ado-Odo/Ota and Ipokia in Ogun West.

In all these council areas, the congress was marred by protests and violence as the factions held different elections.

The lawmakers, in a statement signed on their behalf by Senator Adegbenga Kaka, representing Ogun East Senatorial District, kicked against what they described as further breaches of the party’s guidelines for the congresses which, according to them, could further truncate the aspirations of party members.

It said: “The attention of worthy

People, who turned up, now on their own, appointed among themselves individuals to conduct the election.

Consequently, you will find that in an area, two people declaring themselves as winners.

All of these have cast serious doubt on the integrity of the entire process

Ajimobi

members of our great party, the APC, is hereby called to the shenanigans of congresses going on in Ogun State. The ward congresses of Saturday, April 5, were preceded with various breaches and violation of rules of the game.

“We observe and believe that the breaching of party’s guidelines on the congress is capable of truncating the aspirations of our party faithful. The 48 hours space for appeal hearing and disposal lapsed without treatment of any appeal. Even the illegally proposed re-run was eventually cancelled by the chairman of the congress committee.

“Petitions were written from wards, local governments and state before and after the stipulated time for the conduct of the exercise and handed over to the congress committee chairman for onward transmission to the state congress appeal committee.

“It is curious that the chairman of the state congress committee could attempt to go ahead with the local government congress without resolving any of the matters arising from the inconclusive April 5 ward congress.”

Again, results of the congress held in Edo State were also cancelled by the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who said the action became necessary in order to institutionalise internal democracy.

The ward congress in Edo almost tore the party apart in the state. Loyalists of the Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, claimed victory in Edo South while those of the former South-South Vice Chairman of the APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, cried foul over the exercise and called for its cancellation.

Ize-Iyamu complained that there was no result sheet and that “officials assigned to conduct the congress became ghosts.” He therefore stressed the need for the party to live up to its name and cancel the exercise. But Odubu countered the argument, arguing that the party members who came out to vote made do with the materials available and that the exercise was a huge success.

But Oshiomhole was compelled to anCONTINUED ON PAGE 18

18 POLITICS CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

In a statement they issued penultimate week in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, the governors urged INEC to disregard calls by some politicians for the postponement of the elections due to the security situation in the states.

The governors reminded the Federal Government that it has the obligation of protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians in all parts of the country without necessarily putting them under any special condition.

Against this backdrop, they averred that the Federal Government has the option of putting a security structure in place that will continue and intensify the ongoing counter-insurgency operations without the extension of emergency rule.

Shekarau under fire Besides the governors, other Northern leaders equally condemned Shekarau’s position with many describing him as an agent of the PDP-controlled Federal Government.

A northern elder and former Head of Borno State Civil Service, Bulama Mali Gubio, who spoke in Maiduguri, said that it is very clear that Shekarau has lost his mental balance since he left the APC for the PDP. His words: “Ibrahim Shekarau is a disgrace to the North as a whole. As a matter of fact, with this statement coming from him on crucial matters like this, he has lost what remains of the little integrity in his person as a northerner.”

He added that apart from the three states in question, Shekarau’s comment is capable of denying most states of the North from holding the said elections as well.

“If he is insisting that elections would not hold in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe because they are volatile states; then he should note that it means elections would not hold in his state, Kano, because it is also one of the volatile states. In fact, if Shekarau’s statement is to be taken seriously, it means there won’t be elections in

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

North-East on threshold of exclusion

Nyako

Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau, Benue, Sokoto, and Nasarawa states, because all of them are volatile as it is now.”

Pioneer chairman of the PDP in Borno State, Ahmed Ashemi, also expressed displeasure over Shekarau’s comment, saying that it is capable of sending a wrong signal that could lead to chaos.

He said: “It is an ill-conceived assumption or foreclosure of opinion that we in Borno and sister states of Adamawa and Yobe are not going to experience peace in the next nine months despite the efforts being made by the Federal Government through the security operatives.”

Further berating the former governor for playing politics with the issue of insurgency, Ashemi said: “I am a card-carrying PDP politician, but I will never allow anyone to politicise the current security challenges in the North-East. I believe the issue of security affects all of us and we

Geidam

The only impediment to the conduct of elections in the affected states is a Federal Government that has ulterior motives and one that is mortally afraid of its own shadows have to put hands together regardless of politics, religion or tribal inclines to fight headlong the issue of insecurity, rather than playing politics with it.”

The Afghan example Justifying their position on having elections conducted in their states, the three governors urged INEC to take a cue from war-ravaged Afghanistan where elections were recently held, in spite of threat of attacks by the Taliban terrorist group.

The governors said Afghanistan and her people were celebrated worldwide for liberating themselves from the scourge of fear and thereby sent a strong signal that no amount of threats would deny them from choosing their leaders through democratic processes.

“INEC should take a cue from Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission which courageously held the country’s presidential and provincial election penultimate weekend despite strong threats issued by the Taliban.

“Afghanistan was celebrated worldwide for liberating herself from the scourge of fear, thereby sending a strong signal that no threat would prevent them from choosing their leaders through democratic processes,” they said.

Putting the government to task on security ahead of the 2015 polls, the governors pointed out that the Afghan government provided adequate security for the country’s elections, urging the Federal Government to do same.

“We all know that the unfortunate insurgency affecting this country has a similar attribute to the Taliban doctrine in Afghanistan even though ours is now assuming a very complicated character.

INEC should as a matter of counter-insurgency approach, ensure that no part of Nigeria is excluded from the 2015 general elections,” they said.

While it is indisputable that no human life is worth any election, most stakeholders believe that as pointed out by the governors, the Federal Government and INEC should jettison the idea of excluding Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states from the 2015 elections, as other criminal gangs like Boko Haram may cash in on such to extend attacks to other parts of Nigeria and have more places excluded from future elections.

APC ward congress: A signpost to future elections?

CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 7

nul the results of the congress though he gave reasons. “There was a huge turnout; however, in most cases, officials assigned to conduct this exercise did not get to the venue on time and, where they showed up, they did not carry materials, such as the registers and the result sheets, with them.

“So, that fundamental defect of conducting election without accreditation made the exercise a complete nullity and it cannot be remedied because we cannot even vouch for the authenticity of those who voted.

“In some other instances, not only was accreditation not carried out, those who were to conduct the election were not available and therefore many people decided to resort to self-help. People, who turned up, now on their own, appointed among themselves individuals to conduct the election.

Consequently, you will find that in an area, two people declaring themselves as winners. All of these have cast serious doubt on the integrity of the entire process.”

Also, no fewer than 15 persons, including Edo State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Chris Okaebean, a policeman, a woman and children were injured in fracas at different wards during the rescheduled ward congress in Edo South Senatorial District of the party.

For members of the party in Ondo State, it was a tale of woes as one person was killed while 15 others sustained varying degrees of injuries when the party’s ward congress degenerated into violence One Bosun Adegorola was shot dead and 15 others seriously injured during the exercise. He was shot on the head at Ajipowo area ward 2 in Akure, the state capital, when some members of another faction invaded the area and complained about the conduct of the congress.

According to the Public Relations Officer of Ondo State Police Command, Mr. Wole Ogodo, no fewer than three persons have been arrested by the police for breakdown of law and order in the state and detained at the State Criminal

Investigation Department (SCID).

A faction of the party had pulled out of the congress, alleging marginalisation. The faction that pulled out included a member of the Board of Trustees of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Captain Demola Ariyo; the party’s state chairman, Yemisi Aladesaye; State Chairman of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Olalekan Obolo and its governorship candidate in the October 2012 gubernatorial election, Soji Ehinlanwo.

In Oyo State, the primaries to elect ward executives were held in only six out of the 33 council areas of the state amidst tension in Iseyin and Oyo West local government areas.

It was gathered that party members in 27 other council areas resolved on consensus arrangement to choose their ward executives.

The councils where congresses were held were Atiba, Oyo West, Afijio, Surulere, Ogo-Oluwa and Ogbomoso North.

But some party members are already

threatening to quit the party over allegation of imposition of candidates. Led by a former governorship candidate, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, the aggrieved members said if Governor Abiola Ajimobi fails to address the issue of imposition of candidates, they would be left with no option than to leave the party.

With all these controversies and allegations of imposition of candidates, it is obvious that the leadership of APC has a lot to do ahead of its national congress coming up next month. It must also prove to Nigerians, on the other hand, in terms of internal democracy that it is not only the party to beat, but the real alternative that they seek.

Many observers have argued that it goes beyond rhetoric and mere war of words with the ruling party for APC to become the real opposition party that can liberate the nation. They observed that the party has to put its house in order and get it right before coming out to the big stage, which is the 2015 general elections.

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

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19 Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha

TUESday, APRIL 22, 2014

Living in denial of the Ebola threat

he West Africa subregion and by extension, the continent, is in grave danger from the Ebola virus outbreak. 135 deaths have been recorded across the sub-region by a new strain of the disease which did not emanate from its traditional endemic areas of Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, South Sudan and Gabon.

Health officials describe it as the worst outbreak in seven years and kills as many as nine out of 10 people who contrast it.

In Nigeria, the Information Minister and the Health Ministry frantically addressed the press a few weeks ago, but without hitting the nail on the head and a silence has followed. Against the backdrop of alleged closure of borders by some countries in the region even when World Health Organization (WHO) has advised against placing travel or restrictions on Guinea, Liberia, Mali and Sierra Leone on account of the outbreak of the disease, the Nigerian situation is puzzling.

A massive campaign should have been underway in several languages through the media warning the public about the implications of the outbreak, and protective measures to take against the spread of the disease, which is almost knocking on our doors. Also, to allay fears which the news of the outbreak of the disease may generate. Shock-

ingly, a fence sitting mode has been activated, perhaps waiting for the virus to strike.

We make bold to advise that whether it is dengue fever or Ebola virus, what should matter now is taking practical precautionary measures. Using dengue haemorrhage to explain away the earlier situation in Nasarawa state that left one female mortality is a clear case of living in denial. Instead of expending energy discrediting reports about the alleged outbreak, health authorities should start mobilizing, strategizing and organizing against the possible outbreak of the disease. Nothing should be left to chance. The population of Nigeria is huge and a fertile ground for an epidemic. Nigerians are adventurous and they migrate a lot. Moreover, the porous nature of the Nigerian borders is a huge risk factor for the disease.

Thus while the authorities may be thinking erroneously that it is in Guinea or Ghana, it may just be incubating right here.

The profile of the disease is intimidating. Ebola Virus Disease (formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever) is severe, with a case fatality rate of up to 90 per cent. It is one of the world’s most virulent diseases. The infection is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected animals or people. Health experts say once infected with the Ebola virus,

incubation period is four to 16 days. It starts suddenly with fever, chills, headache, anorexia and muscle pain. As it progresses, other symptoms manifest such as nausea, vomiting, sore throat, stomach pain and diarrhoea. Most patients are also said to develop severe haemorrhages between the fifth and seventh day.

During an outbreak, those at higher risk of infection are health workers, family members and others in close contact with sick people and deceased patients. Also, burial ceremonies in which mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased person can play a role in the transmission. Men who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to seven weeks after recovery. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and fruit bats. Since monkeys, rodents, among others, are its suitable vectors it may be passed on to people who eat bush meat. More importantly, the virus is also said to bear clinical similarities with common ailments like malaria, typhoid fever, cholera, relapsing fever, meningitis, hepatitis and other viral haemorrhagic fever. Grimly, it has no cure or vaccine and may probably continue to spread in the region for a few more months, according to the WHO. Our health system is comatose

and lacks the capacity to handle emergencies. A situation manifest in the way serious health issues are treated with levity.

Reportedly, and unfortunately so, Nigeria does not have any laboratory in the country that can effectively diagnose Ebola virus, a disease which bears similarities with other haemorrhagic fevers like Lassa and dengue fever. With such revelation coming from laboratory scientists, Nigerians must be worried and watchful.

But the panic arising from the outbreak of the disease in other countries should be a lesson to the Federal Government to prioritize health issues. The authorities in the health ministries should wake up from their slumber, anticipate and take action.

According to health experts, the best approach to it is to trace the contact and break the chains of transmission. Like they would say, “it is not easy to catch, but terrible if you catch it.”

Our health officials at all levels must be alert, while our tertiary health facilities should be adequately equipped and upgraded to deal with the threat.

It is imperative to address this issue with the urgency it deserves to avert any serious implication on Nigerians who are already saddled with the heavy burden of other deadly diseases. It would be a disservice to add to the already existing pains by exposing them to new deadly threats.

GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief IKE ABONYI Deputy Managing Director/DEIC FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Managing Editor, South SULEIMAN BISALLA Managing Editor, North AYODELE OJO Acting Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board GEOFFREY EKENNA News Editor PADE OLAPOJU Production Editor TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

20

Sanctity of Truth

OPINION Education: The APC example in Lagos Femi Ayelabowo

T

he on-going drama in Lagos State between the students of the Lagos State University (LASU) and its owner, the government of the State over school fees, puts a lie to all the talks of being progressive trumpeted by the All Progressives Congress (APC). The fiasco shows the last battle between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government as a child’s play: not because of the duration of that last strike, but that a supposedly “Progressives” State can consider charging the huge fees that Lagos government threw at the students.

It is difficult to understand why the APC government will contemplate charging between N190, 000 and N330, 000, when in the same Lagos, the federally-owned University of Lagos charges less than N20, 000. Many have suggested that the APC government is desperately in search of funds to prosecute the 2015 national elections, but that sounds too preposterous even for the leader of the party to consider. But there may be some measure of truth in the other suggestion that funds are need for the huge, deep pocket projects that the Lagos government is embarking on.

A day after the Lagos Assembly gloatingly, through its Speaker, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, last January, commended the students’ union for using the e-voting system for a successful election of its officers and called on Professor Attahiru Jega and the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to take lessons from the students and organize a credible e-voting elections in the country in 2015, the state government suffered the embarrassment of the LASU management shutting the school.

What a way not to be an example!

It said in a statement then: “In the wake of the violent protest by some affected students of Lagos State University (LASU) over the closure of the university portal for registration of courses for rain semester 2012/2013 examination, the university management has decided to shut down the university indefinitely. Also, examinations have been put off till further notice. With this decision, students are expected to vacate the university premises until further notice.”

For two days, students of the school made a mess of the image of an APC government that claimed it was pursuing its education agenda better than the PDP-controlled federal government that had universities shut for five months on account of dissatisfied school lecturers. This time, it was students who should be in school that were bearing the brunt of a government that is being made to look irresponsible in its handling of such a vital sector and its most important segment.

Students of the school went on the rampage destroying the school’s property, burning tyres on the expressway and disrupting the second semester examinations.

According to newspaper reports, they were not happy with the management for closing the registration portal against about 1,292 of its students who had not yet registered for the second semester examinations. The examinations were disrupted by the angry students who vowed not to carry over their courses to the next semester due to their inability to pay the exorbitant fees charged by the school.

At the time the students went gaga, only about 700 students were able to register before the portal was shut and were the only ones approved to take the exams. Soldiers, the same federally paid ones like the policemen, got the

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Lagos government out of the logjam of dealing with the riotous students.

The inscriptions on some of the placards the students carried were instructive: “Fashola, pity us, our parents are poor,” “Obafunwa (the vice chancellor), open the registration portal or there will be no exams.”

The management of the crisis in the state university, the beacon of the opposition APC, watchers have warned, is a clear indication of how the bumbling party may handle education if it ever wins the election at the centre. It is another vote of no confidence on the party that is at the middle of an internal crisis. Even the much vaunted Fashola magic is failing to work in this crucial sector, and many are teasing that governance is not all about construction and turning of the State into a business haven. Lagos has the rich and the poor; the very rich and the very poor that need services, so Fashola will do well to help all.

In his reasons for the imbroglio, the Vice Chancellor, Obafunwa said “In a joint meeting, Wednesday, between the Governing Council and the university management team, it was deliberated extensively on whether the registration portal should be opened for the affected students to register for their 2012/2013 second semester courses or otherwise. After the deliberations, it was decided that the portal should remain shut for smooth commencement and effective administration of the scheduled 2012/2013 rain semester examination.

“There is little or nothing the management can do at this moment to open the portal, because it is the decision of council and not Obafunwa’s decision.

Ayelabowo contributed this piece from Ibadan and can be reached via Femilabowo@gmail.com

Amaechi’s legal, political battles and enrichment of judiciary (2) Continued from yesterday

Eze Chukwuemeka Eze

F

ight over the control of the Local Government Affairs between the National Assembly and State House of Assembly In 2003, Governor Amaechi came up with another feat through the courts. When the National Assembly moved to hijack the legislative functions of the State House of Assembly as enshrined in the constitution, he led his colleagues to take the matter to Nigeria’s Supreme Court and the court gave a judgment that the control and supervision of local government is the prerogative of the State House of Assembly.

3. PDP Leadership and its Undemocratic Suspension of Gov. Amaechi from the Party When PDP National Leadership in its undemocratic exhibition decided to suspend Governor Amaechi from the party without any sound reason on 27th May, 2013 and was to follow it up with expulsion, he resorted to the courts once again to stop them from taking any further step on his case until he decided to join APC. The suspension of Amaechi from the party was agreed during an unscheduled and unusually early morning meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party at the residence of the then National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. The

meeting commenced at 8.00 a.m. and came two days ahead of the regular meeting of the NWC which normally holds on Wednesdays.

It was also three days after Amaechi beat the odds with his re-election as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF. He had been allegedly opposed by the PDP Governors’ Forum, PDP-GF, ahead of the election.

The governor’s suspension was hinged on what the party described as his refusal to order the reinstatement of members of the ObioAkpor LocalGovernmentexecutivewho were suspended from office on the orders of the Rivers State House of Assembly upon allegations of corruption raised against the LG executive.

Hours after the suspension was announced, the party at a press conference said that it had constituted a committee headed by Mr. Joe Gadzama, SAN, to probe allegations raised against Amaechi. Other members of the committee were PDP National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; Inalegwu Onche, Friday Nwosu, Udorji Amedu, Ola Kukuyi, Wakil Mohammed, Yusuf Jangwe, Mrs. Bola Doherty, Mr. Tanimu Adamson and Anicho Okoro as Secretary.

Reacting to his suspension during an interactive session with youths of the state, Amaechi asked: “Who has power to suspend Obio/Akpor council? Now you see political witch-hunting; it is so ridiculous, my party must rise above political witch-hunting. The

Governor did not suspend Obio/Akpor council, I hope you know. My power is to dissolve and remit it to the House of Assembly, but I have not done that yet, what the Assembly has said is ‘we are investigating corruption’ then the party says we should not investigate corruption, is that fair?” He went further to state that the NWC issued a press statement to suspend me without any invitation and fair hearing. His words: “I was not invited by the National Working Committee of PDP, I was not given fair hearing. What I heard was ‘why did I refuse to reinstate the suspended Obio/ Akpor Council executive? Who suspended them?’His questions received the enthusiastic response of the youths who chorused: “The Rivers State House of Assembly.” Again the governor asked, ‘who has the power to investigate Obio/Akpor council executive?” The youths again replied: “The State Assembly.”

Why and How Amaechi joined APC This unfortunate and wicked step by the PDP Leadership led to the departure of Governor Amaechi and six other PDP Governors to form the New PDP, with five of them later joining the mega opposition political party, APC. Explaining why he joined APC, Governor Amaechi said: “Unfortunately, recent events within the PDP have given me reason to reconsider our collective interest as people of the South South and indeed as Rivers people.

At various times, as the one whom you had

gave your mandate, I had cause to complain about the marginalisation of our state and our people despite our huge contribution to the national coffers and our unflinching commitment and support for the ruling PDP. While the political and economic importance of Rivers State cannot be contested, we continue to hold the shorter end of the stick.

“A few instances may suffice: •Our demand that the Federal Government return oil wells belonging to Rivers State to us has gone unheeded and been treated with levity under this administration. Rather, our oil wells have been ceded to Bayelsa, Abia and Akwa Ibom states. Even after we got a judgment that the oil wells were wrongly ceded to Akwa Ibom State and should be returned to us, only dry wells that were no longer producing oil were returned.

“In the specific case of the Soku oil wells, despite a decision reached that the monies should remain in an escrow account till all matters concerning it are resolved, the Federal government continues to pay neighbouring Bayelsa State the revenues meant for Rivers State in a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. It is indeed noteworthy that we have made several representations formally and informally on this matter.

• Eze Chukwuemeka Eze (ezemediaconcept08@rocketmail.com, 08038199163) is a Media Consultant based in Port Harcourt

OPINION 21

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Boko Haram insurgency: Time for some home truth Abba Adakole

O

n my way home from work on Monday, the bloody day in Nyanya, Abuja, a lot of depressive thoughts were going through my mind as we encountered a huge traffic situation on our route, a major road in the city. In any case, I had achieved nothing in office that very day after news broke that the merchants of death have finally struck again in Abuja, leaving scores dead and many more critically injured. The television footages of littered corpses and mangled body parts irresponsibly and constantly flashed at intervals did not help matters either. Yes, as I tried to interrogate the sad occurrence of the day in my mind, especially how life has become so cheap in our country in the past three years, I was woken from my pensive mood only by the innocent sighs of the taxi driver behind the wheels.

Without any prompting, the driver had told me that with what his eyes saw that very day at the Nyanya bombing site, he had lost every hope in our leaders. I was at least glad that, he has only given up on the politicians, not our country. The driver told me how disappointed he was that every morning there is no longer any encouraging news other than bloodletting, harvest of deaths and melancholy. He even went ahead to question his own sanity by remaining in the city where life is no longer safe to earn a living. “Oga, wetin I dey do for this town sef? Imagine if this wicked people come to attack us in this traffic, who will defend us? Well, it is only God that can save us!” At this point, I jerked into life.

Wait a minute; have our security people who are clearly overwhelmed by this new vista of terror in the land figured out this?

Is there anything they can do about it? Do they have enough personnel and equipment? Are they getting enough support from the people by way of information or encouragement? Or are they demoralised by the wrong public perception that they are not doing enough?

Perhaps this is the time to start telling ourselves some home truths about our security situation in the country. First, how did we get to the point that we are now that nobody is safe in the homes, schools, churches, mosques, parks and other public places? When the former National Security Adviser (NSA), the late General Andrew Azazi spoke up and put the blame squarely on those politicians who began to appropriate their right to rule while disqualifying others, he was shouted down.

But the question which nobody has provided the answers to is: why did the Boko Haram insurgency escalate after the emergence of Goodluck Jonathan as President?

Yes, those trying to obfuscate the truth pontificate how the insurgency predates Jonathan in a deceitful attempt to erase every nexus between the emergence of the Jonathan presidency and the escalation of insurgency in the northern part of the country.

We all lived in this country when President Yar’ Adua was in power. The nation was very peaceful then except for the destructive agitations of the militants in the Niger Delta, which the amiable former president admirably dealt with. The hint

of what was to come became evident with the manifest opposition against the constitutional empowerment of Jonathan as Acting President by some politicians mainly from the North when it became obvious that President Yar’ Adua was no longer fit to carry out his functions as president. This anti-Jonathan stance resurfaced when he sought to present himself as the candidate of his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). People like Adamu Ciroma, Atiku Abubakar and their like never ceased from shouting how Jonathan was not qualified to run on the basis of a nebulous zoning clause in the PDP’s constitution. For those who have forgotten, Atiku was presented as the northern consensus candidate against Jonathan at the PDP presidential primaries and the former vice president was taken to the cleaners.

But from then on, statements purported to make Nigeria ungovernable should Jonathan be elected began to emerge from some northern politicians and as it is said the rest is history!

Those who are interrogating Jonathan’s handling of the Boko Haram terror are not entirely wrong though. He is the President whose job is to protect lives and property.

Has he been alive to this responsibility?

The answer is yes. Has he succeeded yet?

No. Is the President getting the necessary support or assistance from the opposition?

If you ask me the way that some politicians especially from the opposition clan seem to be gloating over the sad tragedies that Boko Haram is unleashing on us as a people is really worrying. Many of those who should know are wrongly seeing the

tragic attacks on defenceless citizens as the problem of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Yes, Jonathan is the president on whose table the buck stops yet that does not justify the unpatriotic comments and body language of the opposition, particularly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership, that seem to suggest that they are happy that President Jonathan has issues on his hands to deal with. This was exemplified in the statement of APC leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the Nyanya bombing when he stated that the shedding of blood has continued because the Jonathan administration has not devised a grand strategy against the menace, either locally or internationally. And as if gloating over incident, Tinubu remarked that, “just as Jonathan laps up praises, he must bear responsibility and accept blame over the Boko Haram’s deadly attacks.”

Sometimes, it is difficult to decipher what the leadership of the opposition and a section of northern elders want from Jonathan. We are all witnesses to the severe pressures that President was put to force him withdraw the soldiers in Borno and Yobe states by the so-called elders who accuse the soldiers of harassing “innocent” citizens. When you factor in that the presence of the soldiers inspires confidence in the locals on the ability of the state to protect them, you definitely question the motives of those calling for the withdrawal of soldiers from troubled areas. Ironically, whenever the insurgents strike, it is this same group of elders that will question Jonathan’s efforts in protecting the people.

• Adakole contributed this piece from Abuja.

Investigate them all: Open letter to Mr. President Mustapha Abdullahi

D

ear Mr President, I hope that this letter meets you well and level-headed, because the issues that beset our dear country are enough to leave you exasperated. I hope and pray, also, that this letter meets you when you are doing what, one governor suggests, is church hopping. Do not mind him at all, because the best place to be in times like this is before the presence of God, with the ravages perpetrated by sons of the devil for whom has been reserved the hottest part of hell.

Never mind such snide remarks from men whose fellows spend quality time in worship houses at least three times a day on working days, during working hours, and the rest of us who have official business to transact are advised to wait until they return from the mosques. But that is for those of them who take Allah serious. For the unserious one like that suddenly-pious governor, they do not bother to observe the required prayer times because they think their brilliance will make a way for them; so, they do not need the help of Allah to surmount the heaps of problem and corruption that beset Lagos State, where another pretender has been robbing the State blind while the loquacious god-son acts as an abettor.

On the violence that has been rocking the country, your Excellency, some of us have come to the conclusion that only Heaven, working through security forces can solve the problem; so, please, keep praying to God. Do it genuinely and do not, for once, let anybody give you the impression that all is well. At the appropriate time, all those involved in this carnage will face the wrath of the Father of the spirits of all flesh. They can never escape His judgment; neither can they postpone it a day longer than ordained. God arrives on time.

Since we are still in the religious mood, Sir, I crave your indulgence to speak about that young man who attempted to bomb an American plane sometime ago for what he termed a job for Allah. To be sure, it is not the Allah we know that sent him. He was programmed from childhood to carry out that dastardly act. Why, you may ask, sir? The answer lies in his progenitor who claimed he trained his son well and went through an elaborate scheme to prove his innocence with the help of some security chiefs who are still in government.

Sir, have you bothered to ask them, your security chiefs, that as the young man was growing, whose portrait adorned his family house? Some close family sources say it is that of an Ayatollah. Also, sir, do not believe that story that it was that former governor of Kwara State that gave the former dishonest CBN governor his job. Why? Who was rumored to have taken the former CBN chief under his tutelage and contributed to his Masters training in Sudan? How come he came into that “wise man’s bank” when someone was the Chairman of the board? How come he followed that someone to “truly the first”? And when that someone left his last bank and persuaded his Katsina brother, who was running Nigeria when you were number two, this character became CBN chief? Do you remember the first fundamental act of the character that rocked the country, Sir? It was to issue a license for an Islamic bank to his banking godfather that is today being used for some nefarious activities. Please investigate.

While you are at it, your Excellency, investigate why this same quiet but deadly godfather got a multi-billion naira contract to build infrastructure for a whole district in Abuja with the connivance of your boys, especially that one that is rumored to be a favorite of your wife, and who wants to be a governor in a north-eastern state of Nigeria. Oga, please

shine your eyes, because you are surrounded by ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Please ignore that leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), who, commenting on the Nyanya bombing in his own newspaper, where professionalism has gone to the dogs, said that the shedding of blood has continued because your administration has not devised a grand strategy against this menace, either locally or internationally.

He knows more than he is telling because he is in bed with his former contemporary in Abuja, the CBN “disgrace”, and others.

According to him, “It is another gloomy chapter not only for families, but it reinforces the fear and vulnerability of Nigerians. I condemn in the strongest terms the Nyanya bombings and the violent attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram. The killings are detestable, especially those of students and other innocent Nigerians. All peace loving Nigerians must condemn this mindless slaughter in the strongest of terms. No religion, Islam or Christianity, condones the killings of innocent lives for which there can be no justification.

“I call upon the law enforcement agencies and the President to spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators to book.

The Jonathan Presidency must do all in its powers and within the ambit of the law to halt the Boko Haram nightmare.” How come he was so categorical that it was Boko Haram, when even the group had not taken credit? Does he know what we do not know, or is it true that a Boko Haram has been cloned by politicians and some of their friends to serve a purpose?

• Abdullahi (Mustaphabdullahi66@yahoo.com) sent this open letter from Abuja

22

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

ARTS TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2014

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/arts

THEATRE

From the viewpoint of analytic psychology, the theatre, aside from any aesthetic value, may be considered as an institution for the treatment of the mass complex. ― CARL JUNG

23

"

Omo Odo gets Crown Troupe treatment on stage

Ebere Ameh

O

f the different drama groups we have in the country, the Crown Troupe of Africa is one of those that are not only full of pleasant surprises, they are also noted for giving the most mundane lines the most exhilarating and interesting interpretation. That was what they did with Bode Osanyin’s Omo Odo at the Freedom Park, Lagos Island penultimate weekend.

Though a poem, of which many thought would be boring, wondering if it would be chanted or recited, Crown Troupe turned it around, not only acting it, but infusing music and dance to enliven it.

“Yes it is a poem but just see us act it. It is a poem full of dialogue and we enhanced it with lots of music and dance, to make it interesting to our audience, without tampering with the message it is supposed to convey,' Joy Akrah, one of the artistes and a member Crown Troupe for over seven years said.

Omo Odo is a story of a young man, whose mother drove to the city to go and make money and bring home. The bane of many villagers today, the mother, like many mothers believe that if their children go to the city, or outside Nigeria, all their problems would be over. “You can learn a trade, be a bricklayer, be a house boy and bring back money in abundance,” Omoodo's mother charged him.

Reluctantly, arguing that he is too young and inexperienced, Omo Odo, which literally means House Servant in Yoruba language, left for the city.

Unfortunately, he was robbed and dispossessed of everything he owned when he got to the city, with nowhere to call home. Eventually, Omo Odo gets a job as a domestic servant. He worked tirelessly but neither received a commendation nor a smile. He was repeatedly beaten for both the slightest misdemeanor and even for helping his boss' children – Omodele and Omolabake.

While Omo Odo labours for the household day and night, Omodele and Labake go to school and continue with home lessons when they come back.

Despite that, Omo Odo who

Gbadun Squad in performance

eavesdrops occasionally to listen to the teacher, grew in wisdom and understood more than them.

“Omo Odo the untutored is now tutoring,” the poet said.

The play ends when Omo Odo lost his eye to the sledge hammer which his mistress used to hit him for daring to touch Labeke while helping her with her homework.

“It is a metaphorical expression for the everyday man because in our daily lives, whether we like it or not, we are Omo Odos. This is because we wake up, hustling, struggling and suffering to be able to cater for and satisfy one person or another, not just ourselves. There is a particular place in the poem that says something about the plantation planter. It refers to the everyday man, how he plants and other people reap. So in our daily struggle, all boils down to vanity

In our daily lives, whether we like it or not, we are Omo-odos. This is because we wake up, hustling, struggling and suffering to be able to cater for and satisfy one person or another, not just ourselves upon vanity,” Akrah explained.

Written by Bode Osanyin of blessed memory, it is a very didactic poem that is full of lessons. It exposes the plight of domestic servants and the futility of raising one’s own children like kings and queens while unleashing terror on the servant that cares for them. It also deals with the challenges of rural-urban migration ad-

dressing the need for people to be content with their situation and much more.

The audience however, expected a different and better ending for Omo Odo. The poem would have ended with Omo Odo reaping the fruit of his hard work. But that would have watered down the message the playwright intends to convey. The only consolation is the love Labeke, the over pampered daughter of his mistress professed to him as she nursed him to consciousness after he lost his eye.

Directed by Segun Adefila who is also the director of the Crown Troupe of Africa, the poem has been acted several times in the past by the troupe.

“This is about the fifth time we are acting it. There was a program called Bukateria that we used to do every Sunday at Ter-

ra Culture, we acted Omo Odo about four times there. The response was quite impressive. So we have been at Victoria Island and we decided to come to Lagos Island to entertain the people here. We have some places in the mainland and we plan to take Omo Odo there soon,” Akrah said.

To prepare the audience for the wonderful performance was Gbadun Squad a Music Band, which is an offshoot of Crown Troupe and Art Osagie Okedigun's ART-"O"-TEN premiere of Pole Post, a toast to a great nation's heritage. They reminded the audience of our nationality, of all the good and all the bad the diverse ethnic groups and languages, diverse occupations, the insecurity and lack of development, and the need for us to remain one united and peaceful country in spite of it all.

The Dream4 Naija Documentary: Banky W calls for youth empowerment

I

nternational Republican Institute (IRI) in partnership with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United States Consulate launched Dreams4Naija; a documentary profiling young Nigerians and their expectations and dreams for a future Nigeria recently at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Hosted by TV personality Adaure Achumba and Comedian Owen Gee, the event provided attendees the platform to discuss

measures needed to promote youth participation in politics and prevent electoral violence.

The documentary produced by the International Republican Institute (IRI) in partnership with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United States Consulate is a 30-minute documentary profiling young Nigerian leaders like Chude Jideonwo, Mosunmola Umoru, Kola Oyeneyin, Olusola Onibginde, Tosin Jegede and their expectations for a future

Nigeria.

In her keynote address, Mrs. Dehab Ghebreab who represented the U.S. Consulate General, Jeffery Hawkins said, as part of a global community and vital to good governance, youths should get involved and participate in electoral processes by registering and voting during elections, staying informed and keeping abreast issues affecting their communities. “The future of Nigeria is in the hands of the youth, so youths should be the change they want to

see in Nigeria before, during and after the 2015 elections,” she said.

The documentary filmed by Ray McNally from McNally Temple Associates, Inc. of California in partnership with popular Nigerian artist; Banky W, provides useful information to political parties and aspirants as they prepare to review and develop party constitutions and manifestoes. It also features other musical stars, including 2Face ldibia, and Wizkid; youth CSO leaders; university students.

24 ARTS

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Osofisan honoured in Rwanda

O

ne of Nigeria’s leading dramatists, and University of Ibadan’s Emeritus Professor of Drama, Femi Osofisan, was recently recognised by the Rwandan government for his 1994 play, Reel, Rwanda, during the series of events termed “Kwibuka20” which is organised to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the genocide in the country.

The events started on January 7, 2014.

Kwibuka is the Kinyarwanda word for “remember”. The theme of the commemoration is: Remember, Unite, Renew.

More than one million victims of the genocide against the Tutsis and moderate Hutus were recorded in 1994.

At the “Café Littéraire – Thinking and writing our history: the pan-African memory of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda” on April 6, Osofisan was one of ten writers who has written about the genocide, and who was invited to Kwibuka20. Other writers include the Cote d’Ivorean Veronique Tadjo who wrote L’ombre d’Imana, and Monique Ilboudo (Murekatete).

The purpose of the Literature Café was to reflect on the important role that arts play in ensuring that the world knows about what happened in Rwanda, and to make sure that genocide never happens again – in Rwanda or elsewhere.

Over the past twenty years, various artistic – individual and collective – initiatives have taken place. Among these

are the “Rwanda écrire par devoir de mémoire” and Fest’Africa literature festival, which were held in 2000. Several individual Rwandan artists have produced important works, mainly testimonies, and have received prestigious prizes and international recognition for their genocide-centred creations. Comic books about Rwanda have also played a central role, reaching out to audiences that would not naturally be interested in the history of genocide in Rwanda.

To date, more than ten books have been authored, several theatre productions have been staged and numerous university research studies and translations have been made.

Excerpts from Osofisan’s Reel, Rwanda were performed, along with other dramatizations and poetry performances.

The writers also talked with students from the University of Rwanda in Butare. The Rwandan president then gave a two-hour audience to the writers, discussing the experience of the genocide, the liberation war, and the development process afterwards.

According to Osofisan, “the horrors of the genocide are simply unimaginable.

But the reconciliation and reconstruction efforts, together with the tremendous economic achievements, since then are a marvel. Kagame has a lot to teach our other Presidents”.

The writers also visited to Musambi, where the slaughter was particularly

Osofison and Kagame

gruesome.

The Kwibuka20 commemoration involved vast choreography and performance at the Kigali, with over 2,000 actors, singers and dancers enacting the horrors of the genocide.

Nigeria was also one of the four countries praised for its positive roles during

the 1994 genocide by the Rwandan president, Paul Kagame. The Nigerian ambassador and president of the UN Security Council during the crisis, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, was especially mentioned by Kagame for his contributions. Professor Gambari was also honoured with the Rwandan national award.

God’s Children’s Got Talent Season Four enters quarter final stage

Some of the contestants in performance at the God’s Children Got Talent Season 4 quarter-final, held at the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos, last Saturday.

Tony Okuyeme

S

eason four of God’s Children’s Got Talent (GCGT), the pioneer Christian children’s talent hunt programme, initiated by the City of David parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God province 4, has entered the quarter final stage.

Making the announcement following series of auditions, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, Head

of Apapa family, explained that the mission of the project is to provide a credible platform for the celebration of talent in God’s children. He said, “God’s Children’s Got Talent was born out of the need to help identify and nurture the diverse talents available in children across the Province”. The scope of talents being judged includes a variety of musical instruments, arts, singing, dancing and others.

In its fourth season, God

Children’s Got Talent has over the past couple of years attracted both multinational and national sponsors across various segments. Sponsors of the 2014 edition includes Cadbury’s bournvita, First bank, RCCG The City of David, Dove media, The Riverbank School, Digital Jewels, Access Bank ,Stanbic IBTC Asset Management and many others.

Marketing consultant and Chairman Advertising Practitio-

ners Council, Lolu Akinwunmi who gave the opening remarks at an earlier event to unveil the opportunities in season four said, ‘GCGT tells a powerful story by both stimulating and harnessing children’s talents and bringing their dreams to fruition. In my view, this is another tool for social development and I encourage many brands to participate.”

Pastor Iluyomade further said ‘‘two of the major differentiators for the 2014 edition

of God’s Children’s Got Talent is scope of coverage, as season four of GCGT had other UK and US based RCCG Apapa parishes participating. Also, winners of the 2014 GCGT competition will get up to 22M prizes comprising cash prizes, talent development packages and musical equipments.

Some of the judges include personalities such as Joke Silva, Sir Nwokedi of Muson centre, Tosyn Bucknor and others.

BUSINESS TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2014

WHAT'S NEWS Feud over $1bn Chevron blocks’ sale degenerates The row over the planned sale of $1 billion oil blocks by Chevron in Nigeria degenerated at the weekend with two biggest prospective buyers of the assets locking horns at the Court of Appeal.

}p-26

Controversy over cement grades rages Necessity, they say is the mother of invention. The recent introduction of Dangote 3x cement into the building materials’ market has continued to generate emotional ‘war’ among homebuilders, block producers and construction workers over the choice of cement grades for their projects.

}p-33

Fuel surcharges: The airline industry’s big sham?

It is no longer news that airlines are squeezing travellers. The fees that airlines add to tickets ostensibly to cover fuel costs rose twice as fast as the costs last year, according to a study from Carson Wagonlit Travel.

}p-37

More knocks for aviation agencies' merger Aviation industry stakeholders have faulted moves by the Federal Government to restructure, merge and rationalise agencies and parastatals in the sector.

}p-39

BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) SIMEON OGOEGBULEM, Dep. Business Editor SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

OUTRAGE Four million subscribers pay N750 every month without enjoying electricity supply

CHUKS ONUANYIN, Energy NNAMDI AMADI, Reporter

ayodele.aminu@newtelegraphonline.com ayodeleaminu@yahoo.com

Consumers kick

E

lectricity consumers in Nigeria have lampooned the Nigerian Electricity Regulating Commission (NERC) and distribution firms over the N750 fixed charges imposed on them.

This came as investigation

by New Telegraph revealed that electricity distribution companies have raked-in over N30 billion as fixed charges from June 2013 till date.

The NERC had, in June, 2013 announced a review of the charge from N500 to N750.

The fixed charge is an automatic revenue earner for the electricity provider as it affects every registered subscriber. According to NERC, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) customers will continue to pay the amount on a monthly basis.

This is irrespective of whether they had power supply or not.

Many customers of the PHCN, who were not aware of

TRADE Ghana to export salt to Nigeria from its Keta Lagoon Basin in the Volta Region Bayo Akomolafe

A

n integrated salt company that will export salt to Nigeria is being established by

L-R: Director, Women Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Folasade Ogunnaike; Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro and wife of Lagos State governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, during the presentation of tools of trade to widows, donated by the MTN Foundation under its Widows Empowerment Scheme, in Lagos.

the new monthly electricity fixed charge, expressed surprise when they got their June bill.

But barely one year after, the fixed charge has been increased again, despite the continued deterioration in power supply.

An electricity customer, Onche Odeh, told this newspaper that the fixed charges amounted to exploitation of customers by the power firms.

According to Odeh, no amount would have been hard to pay if the service was available.

Like Odeh, an industrialist, Alhaji Roheem Bakare, wondered why the Federal Government could not get the power issue right in the interest of Nigerians.

“I paid my bill and to my surprise, the fixed charge, which has been increased from N500 to N750 is still reflected there.

It was a big shock because for over three months now we do not have power supply whereas I was made to pay N2,250 as fixed charges for the three months,”

Ghana to export salt to Nigeria Ghana.

The company will be sited at the Keta Lagoon Basin in the Volta Region.

The country has also secured $35 million from Indian EXIM Bank in order to com-

mence work on the Komenda Sugar Factory.

According to the country’s Minister of Trade and Industry (MOTI), Mr Haruna IdCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

he said.

“What the hell is going on in this country? Abi na only my own fixed charge increase?”

Blessing Jimoh, a PHCN customer living in Benin, Edo State, exclaimed.

Another customer, Mr. Alabi Ojo, who lives in Lagos, wondered what the electricity company would do with the N750 paid simultaneously with his monthly electricity bill.

“I was using post-paid meter until I had to struggle to change to prepaid. The bill for my threebedroom flat before the hike last June was always between N2,500 and N3000.

“But when the new tariff took effect, I started getting bills of N7000 and N9000. I was so angry that I had to visit the PHCN office on Aina Street to complain, thinking that it was the usual crazy bill. There, I met a crowd of equally angry customers.

“That was where I was adCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Rates Dashboard

DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor ABDULWAHAB ISA, Finance Editor

AYODELE AMINU, DEPUTY EDITOR, BUSINESS

Adeola Yusuf

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

Fixed charges: Electricity firms rake in N30bn in 10 months

BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SIAKA MOMOH, Asst. Editor (Industry/Agric)

NEW TELEGRAPH

‘DWINDLING OIL EXPLORATION, BIG ISSUE FOR NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC FUTURE’ }p-29

INFLATION RATE February 2014......................7.70% January 2014 .......................8.00% December 2013....................8.00%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.50% Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Maximum Lending Rate..25.83%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at April 11)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N170 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N282 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N235

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at April 11)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N155.74 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N260.56 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N216.15 Source: CBN

26 BUSINESS | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Feud over $1bn Chevron blocks’ sale degenerates RULING An Appeal Court has reserved ruling on Seplat, Brittania-U row Adeola Yusuf

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he row over the planned sale of $1 billion oil blocks by Chevron in Nigeria degenerated at the weekend with two biggest prospective buyers of the assets

locking horns at the Court of Appeal.

The Appellate Court sitting in Lagos has, however, reserved ruling in an appeal filed by an indigenous company, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited, challenging an exparte order made by a Federal High Court in Lagos in favour of another indigenous firm, Brittania-U Limited.

Brittania-U and Chevron Group are locked in a fierce battle over plans for the sale of

Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 52, 53 and 54.

Dissatisfied with the injunction of the Justice Mohammed Yunusa-led Federal High Court in Lagos, Seplat filed an appeal, arguing that the lower court committed judicial blunder by making such order.

While adopting the appeal, Seplat’s lawyer, Damian Dodo (SAN), said that his client was principally aggrieved with the decision of the lower court to extend the life span of the in-

terim order after it had lapsed going by the rules.

He argued that the lower court ought not to have extended the interim order because the subject matter of the suit was purely a commercial transaction, which any loss could be remedied financially.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa had earlier granted an interim injunction restraining Chevron Corporation of the United States, its Nigerian subsidiary, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL)

and their agents from negotiating the sale of the said Oil Mining Leases with Seplat Limited or any other bidder, apart from Brittania-U Limited.

The lower court judge had also extended the injunction restraining Chevron and its agents from declaring Seplat Limited or its agents as the preferred bidder for the oil blocks, apart from Brittania-U Limited, which was said to have emerged the highest bidder in the transaction.

Cement price soars to N2,700 in Lekki-Lagos Dayo Ayeyemi

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L-R: Head, Corporate Sales, Etisalat Nigeria, Eric Uwaoma; Head, Mass Market, Idowu Adesokan; Head, Customer Experience & Retention, Biola Edun, and an Etisalat customer, Moshood Ismael, at the Etisalat Customers' Forum 2014 edition in Akure, Ondo State.

Nigeria tops Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, others in hotel development FIRST A report confirms Nigeria as destination of choice for investors in the hospitality industry Dele Alao

WITH AGENCY REPORT

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report has indicated that Nigeria tops Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and other subSaharan Africa countries in hotel development.

According to the report by Lagos-based consultancy, W Hospitality Group, in its 2013 survey, international and retail chains are signing more deals in Nigeria and other subSaharan Africa countries than in North Africa.

Managing Director, W Hospitality Group, Trevor Ward, said: “What we have seen from our research is that West Africa

is where it’s at. International chains and the regional chains are very much focusing on West Africa, particularly Nigeria, but also Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

Nigeria ticks all the boxes: it’s got the size, the population and most importantly it’s got a large number of cities where hotels can be developed.”

“We’ve been doing the survey for six years now and in previous years it’s always been the five countries of North Africa where the most development deals have been signed, but this year the tables have turned from being more North Africa. We’re now seeing 140 hotels where deals have been signed with international chains and sub-Saharan Africa.

About half that number signed in the five countries of North Africa, so the big story is that sub-Saharan Africa is coming into its own. We think it’s the hotel growth story of the 21st

century,” he added.

Nigeria tops the list of most hotels currently being built in Africa at 40, followed by Morocco at 29 and Egypt with 15. East and Southern Africa, which normally make the top cut in a number of sectors, has currently fallen behind in this industry.

Ward noted that the divergent trend is partly fuelled by the mass unrest in the Northern region of the continent in the past few years, particularly in Egypt and Libya.

“In Egypt, people are just not signing new deals there anymore, and the tourism industry really has taken quite a shock in the last couple of years. The hotel chains are not looking at Egypt very much anymore. On the positive side, they’re looking much more at sub-Saharan Africa. Particularly countries like Nigeria, for their new growth,” he said.

espite Nigeria’s claims of self-sufficiency in cement production, the commodity currently sells between N2,400 and N2,700 in Lekki, Lagos.

High construction activities, coupled with scarcity of the product in the axis has been adduced as a major reason for the high price.

It will be recalled that since the beginning of this year, cement price has been on the rise, jumping from N1,700 to N2,200 at the end of the first quarter.

The latest high price in Lekki axis, despite the increased production claimed by

Dangote cement and Larfage group, was coming as a surprise to building/construction stakeholders in the region.

When New Telegraph visited other locations such as Ojodu Berger, Abule Egba and Mowe, cement was selling between N2,000 and N2,200.

A construction expert, Mr Kunle Awobodu, who was working on a site at Lekki, said that the 42.5 cement grade recently launched by Dangote Group was selling for N2,700 in the axis, while Larfage cement and other brands were selling for as high as N2,400.

Worse still, he said that the products were very scarce in the axis as distributors claimed to have run out of stock.

Ghana to export salt to Nigeria C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

drisu, when the salt factory is completed, it will be exported to Nigeria.

He said: “It makes no sense that Nigeria will be importing salt from far away Brazil when they can find it in our corridor at either Keta or Ada.”

Iddrisu added that the outfit was collaborating with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to ensure that Nigeria imports salt from Ghana.

He noted that several investors, including a local company, had been identified for the execution of the project.

Fixed charges: Electricity firms rake in N30bn in 10 months C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

vised to acquire a prepaid meter.”

The building contractor said that the pre-paid meter (PPM) had in a way resolved the issue of incessant high bills they were getting from the PHCN a few months back. But he complained that he had not seen what the electricity company was doing with the fixed charge of N750 every month.

“They promised us better ser-

vice delivery with the increase in tariff, especially with the fixed charge, but we are yet to see that,” he said.

Another resident of Omole Phase 2, Lagos, Onaifoghe Ogbeide, described the fixed charge as a way of robbing customers.

She said: “It is nothing but daylight robbery because I can’t see what they are using the money for. Why should I be paying a fixed charge of N750 every month in addition to my normal electricity bill?

BUSINESS 27

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Oil royalty: FG abandons $5bn endowment fund’s target STANDSTILL No concrete move for an educational proposal, eight years after Adeola Yusuf

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he Federal Government has abandoned the plan to carve out $5 billion from oil revenues for development of science and technology.

The proposal, which is tagged “empowerment fund for science and technology,” was publicised in 2006 by the administration of the former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

Eight years after the proposal, government is yet to fulfill promises made to pull funds from huge revenues, which it made on oil, its cash cow.

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude exporter, presently produces an average of 2.3 million barrels of crude daily.

The country has made more than $600 billion in oil revenues in the last five decades.

Former vice president of the World Bank, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, who rolled out this figures added that despite this earning, government has been unable to improve the lot of ordinary Nigerians.

A document obtained by

A worker at an illegal refinery

New Telegraph at the weekend however showed that government might have only paid a lip service to the endowment fund for science and technology.

“Nigeria’s 2006 proposal to use revenues from oil royalty to set up a $5 billion endowment fund for science and technology seems to have gone nowhere,” the document reveals.

“By conservative estimate,

our country has earned more than $600billion in the last five decades and yet can only boast of a United Nations Human Development Index score of .4 out of 1 proximate to that of Chad and maternal mortality rate similar to that of Afghanistan,” Ezekwesili said in a paper entitled: “The uncomfortable truth of elusive economic development- Nigeria’s century

of old failures and prospects for a new Nigeria.”

“Nothing,” she continued, “reveals the depth of our failures than such performance indicators considering the vastly greater possibilities that we have been bestowed.”

She explained that several countries rated along with Nigeria in the 1960s have made greater progress in transform-

ing from a country into a nation because the elite made a conscious effort to develop them.

She noted that the cost of rebuilding Europe after World War II was put at $148 billion dollars in today’s value but that this is less than half of the funds that were attributed to have been stolen from Nigeria since independence.

“The expense of such funds transformed the manufacturing, service industry and competitive factors of Europe. It cost $2 billion ($349 billion in today’s value) to rebuild Japan after the nuclear attack.

She also observed that citizens now seek to fully participate and make demands for democratic accountability- they are not afraid to scrutinise all public institutions and to demand better results of governance.

According to the two-time Nigerian minister, poor governance, especially the culture of corruption, was largely responsible for Nigeria’s stunted growth when compared to its peers across the world.

The country, she said, has been rated 32 on countries with high corruption index, adding that whether we accept it or not, Nigeria is presently engaged is systemic corruption and not much has come in terms of measures to put a check to it.

Refineries’ capacity still below 74% –FG

T

he combined average capacity utilisation of the four refineries in Nigeria is below 74 per cent for the month of December 2013, the Federal Government hinted at the weekend.

New Telegraph had exclusively reported that refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri are docile due to unavailability of crude.

In what appeared like a confirmation of the story, the NNPC, at the weekend, put the combined average capacity utilisation of Nigeria’s four refineries as at December, 2013 at 25.95 per cent.

This shows that 74 per cent of utilisation is still left unmet.

The data from the NNPC’s December 2013 Monthly Petro-

leum Information, which confirmed the inability to meet this 74 per cent however maintained that the 25.95 per cent refining capacity in December is still a significant improvement from the 6.46 per cent average capacity utilisation of the refineries in November 2013, and a slight decline from the 30.87 per cent utilisation year on year to December 2012.

The refineries are the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC 1 & 2), and the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC).

Specifically, the NNPC put the respective average capacity

utilisation of the refineries in December, as: KRPC – 32.96 per cent, PHRC – 4.48 per cent, and WRPC – 40.41 per cent.

According to the NNPC, 388,000 metric tons, MT of dry crude oil, condensate and slop was received by the refineries, in the month under review.

“With an opening stock of 433,000MT, total crude oil available for processing was 816,000MT, out of which 403,000MT was processed.

“Total national domestic refining produced 368,000MT of finished and intermediate products. Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, (PPMC), which lifts products from the refineries evacuated 284,000MT of

products,” it noted.

Meanwhile, in November 2013, the NNPC stated that 474,000MT of dry crude oil, condensate and slop was received by the refineries.

With an opening stock of 215,000MT, the NNPC explained that total crude oil available for processing was 689,000MT, out of which 86,000MT was processed.

It disclosed that the respective average capacity utilisation of the refineries in November 2013 was 19.37 per cent for KRPC, and zero per cent for both PHRC and WRPC. “Total national domestic refining produced 84,000MT of finished and intermediate prod-

ucts. PPMC which lifts products from the refineries evacuated 225,000MT of products,” the NNPC said.

However, the NNPC said that 40,314MT of products was used by the three refineries as fuel and loss, adding that consumption as fuel was 9.03 per cent while loss and flare accounted for 0.98 per cent of production in December.

Continuing, the NNPC said: “NNPC Retail Limited and Independent Petroleum Products Marketing Companies distributed about 673.92 million litres of various petroleum products in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in December.

28 BUSINESS | ENERGY

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

‘Power supply worsened in Q1 despite PHCN, GENCOs’ sale’ STANDSTILL Sixty-three per cent of Nigerians experienced no improvement in their power supply Stories by Adeola Yusuf

N

otwithstanding the sale of the power generation and distribution companies, the electricity supply in Nigeria has continued

to worsen, a survey released at the weekend showed.

The Federal Government had, during the November 1, 2013, physical handover of power assets, promised improvement in the generation, transmission and distribution with the privatisation, but the survey by NOI Polls reveals that the improvement is yet to show six months down the line.

The perception of the Nigerian adult public in quarter one of 2014, NOI Polls said in

a statement, is that 43 per cent experienced a worsened state of power supply.

“The result of first quarter survey showed that an average of 63 per cent (43 per cent + 20 per cent) of Nigerians has experienced no improvement in their power supply, with 43 per cent who experienced a worsened state and 20 per cent having no difference at all,” the survey showed.

“More findings revealed that an average of 63 per cent (45 per

L-R: CEO, Oando Gas & Power, Bolaji Osunsanya; Special Adviser to the Dangote Group president/CEO, Joseph Makoju, representing Alike Dangote; MD/CEO, Guinness Nigeria, Seni Adetu, and Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Lagos State, Olusola Oworu, during a session at the recently held 7th Lagos Economic Summit 2014 titled: Increasing industrial growth through improved electricity supply.

DIVERSIFICATION Forte Oil Plc delivers 108 per cent increase in profit-after-tax in 2014 Q1 results Adeola Yusuf

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orte Oil PLC (formerly AP PLC) has said that it recorded strong performance from the 434 Mega Watt (MW) Geregu Power Plant despite operational challenges.

The company, which said this in a statement, maintained that power generation from the plant contributed 7.42 per cent and 44.13 per cent to the group’s revenue and profit-after-tax respectively.

The successful launch of newly repackaged lubricants and aggressive consumer engagement activities also boosted its market share.

The statement added that the continued expansion in the company’s retail network at strategic locations was also part of what contributed to the improvement of its market share.

Forte Oil reaps from Geregu power investment Forte Oil formally took-over Geregu Power Plant on November 1, 2013, following a successful acquisition of the 414 power generation plant located in Kogi State, under the Federal Government-led privatisation programme to divest public power assets.

“In consonance with the diversification strategy, Forte Oil Plc established Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited the state Ground Corporation of China as technical partners, the world’s largest power company to herald its foray into the power sector.

“Amperion Power successfully acquired the 414MW Geregu Power Plant, located in Nigeria’s Kogi State under the recent Federal Government-led privatisation programme in the power sector. Forte Oil is poised to carve a niche in the power generation

sub-sector by using this as a leverage for future opportunities as part of its commitment to bridge the current power deficit in Nigeria,” the statement said.

“Forte Oil Plc, Nigeria’s foremost energy group, has announced its unaudited results for the three months period ended 31 March, 2014, with the following highlights: Financial highlights: Revenue grew 31 per cent to N34.8 billion compared to N26.6 billion during the same period in 2013.

“Gross margin increased by 72 per cent to N4.6 billion compared to N2.7 billion in the same period in 2013. Profit before income tax increased 101 per cent to N1.26bn compared to N633 million recorded in 2013.

“Profit after income tax increased 108 per cent to N1.1bn compared N530 million same period in 2013.

cent +18 per cent) received less than five hours of continuous power supply daily with the majority (45 per cent) receiving between 1- 4 hours of continuous power daily and 18 per cent receiving zero (0) hours of power supply.”

The report stated that six out of 10 Nigerian households received less than five hours of power supply daily in the first quarter.

It continued: “Power sector poll results for the first quarter of 2014 have revealed that an average of 63 per cent of Nigerians experienced no improvement in their power supply, with 43 per cent experiencing a worsened state and 20 per cent having no difference at all.

“More findings revealed that an average of 63 per cent received less than five hours of continuous power supply daily with the majority (45 per cent) receiving between one and four hours of continuous power daily, and 18 per cent

receiving zero hour of power supply.

“To this effect, an average of 79 per cent of Nigerians use alternative sources to augment their power supply, and of this group, majority (72 per cent) reported they experienced an increase in their spending on these alternative sources.”

The agency said that it also observed a decline in power supply to households over the quarter as those that experienced any improvement fell from 44 per cent in January to 37 per cent in March.

Power investors and government agencies have blamed the epileptic electricity supply on gas constraints, dilapidated equipment and poor human capacity.

According to NOI Polls, the aim of the survey was to explore the perception of Nigerians towards the power sector reforms, the amount of power supply received daily and expenditure on alternative sources of power.

NOSDRA lauds oil spills criminalisation bill

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bill for a law to punish those responsible for oil spillage, which is before the National Assembly, is a welcome development, Director-General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Peter Idabor, said at the weekend.

A statement by NOSDRA’s spokesperson, Mr. Henshaw Iraboh, quoted Idabor as saying that the bill which criminalises willful cause of oil spillage would serve as deterrent to would be offenders.

According to him, “the law would come into being via the amendment to the NOSDRA Enabling ACT of 2006, which brought the agency into being, but failed to provide for punishment for oil spillage.

“The amendment, which had passed the first and second readings in both chambers of the National Assembly, is being harmonised at the committee of both chambers and would, once passed into law, provide for effective punishment for oil spill convicts and thus serve as a deterrent to others.”

NOSDRA had earlier activated the 2013 National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP).

The plan is designed to en-

sure the preparedness of the oil industry to respond to oil spills in the country.

Major Lancelot Anyanya (rtd), the Chairman of the Governing board of NOSDRA, told newsmen in Port Harcourt during the 48-hour drill, that the exercise was part of the agency’s mandate.

“We are here to participate, to learn and to see how the agency does in a very important assignment for the well-being of our nation, public safety, public security and well-being of our communities who bear the brunt of oil exploration and exploitation.

“It is an exciting drill that is pursuant to the mandate of the agency to activate national oil spill contingency plan, when and where it might be required.”

Anyanya said that the drill was an exercise based on a scenario to prepare for any oil spill emergency, adding that the exercise, when perfected, would assist in responding promptly to any emergency occurrence.

The chairman said that President Goodluck Jonathan was deeply committed to reversing the trend of many years, where it seemed as if government did not care about the environment.

BUSINESS | ENERGY 29

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

‘Dwindling oil exploration, big issue for Nigeria’s economic future’ Adeloja Ojelabi is the president of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE). With many years of experience in the industry, the first female president of the highest body of petroleum geologists in Nigeria has been at the fore-front of advocacy for increase in exploration for oil and gas in Nigeria. She bears her mind of many topical issues in this interview with Energy Editor, ADEOLA YUSUF. Excerpts The Federal Government has set a target of 40 billion barrels of oil reserves by the year 2020. With the level of exploration in the country, do you think that this target is achievable given the low activities in exploration fields by international oil companies?

All companies are interested in exploration and production and you cannot continue to produce if you don’t find more oil or gas or hydrocarbon. Everybody is cognizance of the fact that you must replace what you are producing and that means we must explore. So, we come together and discuss the challenges. The IOCs are doing it, the independent are exploring. Everybody is interested in finding new oil now and that is for the benefit of the country.

Even government has come up with new marginal fields. If that goes through, obviously, it would mean that more fields are available for more people to participate in exploring further. I believe some of these fields were inactive for a while and that means you can bring in more people or people who are interested in them. If you pay a lot of money for a concession or a lease, at least you’ll want to make your money back. You cannot do that by just sitting on an asset. So, you have to go to explore, if you find the oil that you can produce. So, if four new marginal field policies come through, it will also be a plus for the industry.

As president of NAPE, which sees to exploration in the country, what do you think is responsible for low enthusiasm

by IOCs? There are many issues concerning the low exploration. First are the issues of technology, funding and regulation. All these may make IOCs and Independents a little bit careful because you are talking about investments. Investment in the oil sector is capital intensive. It is not something you just jump into without doing your homework.

So, if you are going to put in a lot of money, you will want to ensure that the environment is okay, free and fair for you to make your money back. I believe that all the parties are working to create that enabling environment and those are the kind of things that NAPE is doing.

We have the PIB, which is pending, hopefully, it would be passed. We also

have the new marginal field policy that is on-going.

The IOCs are still continuing their business. Whatever the situation is, they are also in it to find oil, keep producing and make money. They are still going on with their business but once we resolve all these pending issues, I am sure that the industry will continue to strive.

As far as technology is concerned, it is getting better and better every day. So, all we just need to do is that we make sure that all the other things are taken care of and hopefully, we’ll find the 40 billion.

The shale discovery in the United States has began to impact on activities in Nigeria, which hitherto exported over 1 million barrels to the US. What is your take on this?

I believe that the discovery of shale has impacted based on what we have read in the papers by the petroleum ministry and the ministry of finance. Both ministries have come to say that volume of exports to countries like the US has dropped and that can only tell you one thing: If they are not exporting as much, that means we are not selling as much as we used to sell, but I also know that we are finding and selling to other buyers.

But if these new buyers also find more oil than they are finding, that means that gradually over time, may be the volume of our exports will decrease. So, we need to be serious. As an industry, that is something that is of concern to us and as a country, that is something that the authorities are also aware of and are thinking about.

So, in terms of mitigation, everybody is hands-up looking. But seriously, our country is still greatly underexplored, I

Both ministries have come to say that volume of exports to countries like the US has dropped and that can only tell you one thing: If they are not exporting as much, that means we are not selling as much as we used to sell

Ojelabi

believe that we still have more reserves, we need to explore and produce by having more leases and companies to do more exploration. With these, the target of 40 billion barrels reserves will become a reality. And in terms of being able to sell it, we are a country of 170 million people, if we just convert our economy to a gas driven-economy. For example, look at power. We are seriously underpowered as a country and we have all the gas and yet we still do not have electricity. Just imagine that we harness the gas and use it to give power to about 100 million people. Our first concern will not be how are we going to sell the gas? It may be because we may want to also monitise the gas, but as a country, industrialisation and power will definitely drive up local consumption of gas because we have a great potential for our local consumption. If we have industrialisation; electricity, fertilizer companies, cement companies, all these are industries that use a lot of gas.

In the face of all these, what are the challenges facing your members who are experts in petroleum exploration?

In terms of challenges, we are made up of member, so whatever the challenges of our members are, the same challenges that affect NAPE as a global institution and these challenges are global. We have the oil price, we have the environment, you have regulatory issues. All these affect members, so they concern us as well.

NAPE has also been at the fore-front of advocacy for technology transfer from one generation to another through its university assisted programme. How far have you gone on this project?

One of the strong programmes of NAPE is our university assistance programme (UAP). This year, as we have every year, there is a NAPE miniconference dedicated for students. It’s a major conference where we bring students together from all over the country and abroad to talk about education and geo-science education to share what they have discovered in terms of research; what is happening in the industry and we are encouraging them to also build the confidence and to go out into the world and attend other major conferences. So, we are training them, we give scholarships, many of our members give NAPE a grant for your alma mata and NAPE does this on your behalf. I have a programme running for female geoscientists in my alma mata, which is the University of Jos. A lot of people do that, so, we go through the NAPE platform so that it goes around. You can have a lot of people donating for the same course and to encourage a wider participant, NAPE takes on this kind of things. It gives scholarship to students who perform well in our mini-conferences and we send them to other conferences abroad and some of them are also accompanied by their lecturers.

We encourage things like participation in the Imperial Barrel Award that is a competition among universities. We also have a leadership forum, we engage all the universities: the administrators, the lecturers, the leadership of universities, to talk about the curriculum; the education, the challenges we have in geosciences education and how what we have in the industry can be relevant to the industry or making sure that the universities are teaching skills that will be relevant for the industry.

30

BUSINESS | ENERGY

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Don tasks PTDF on research funding INVESTMENTS Experts have said that the oil and gas industry will gain from adequate investment in research ’Tunji Ajibade ZARIA

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ne viable way forward for the nation’s ailing oil and gas industry is for the concerned bodies in technology to fund as well as make use of research outputs in the country.

This was the view of a chemical engineer and the head of the Petroleum Trust Development Trust Fund Professorial Chair in Chemical Engineering of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor A.S. Ahmed.

Vice-Chancellor of Al-hikmah University, Ilorin, Professor Abdullahi, also noted that the new technology for producing synthesised zeolite, gained popularity in the late 1970s when a Dutch scholar in the United States of America first mentioned its possibility and it has since gained worldwide acceptance.

He asked the PDTF to pump more money into the research, adding that Nigeria has the potential to match any research that is going on anywhere else in the world. “I think with more funding, we will be able to bring in more staff from within and outside Nigeria…and do less of improvisation,” he said.

Delivering a lecture titled,

“Indigenous Process Technology Development For The Production of Zeolite Catalysts From Kaolin,” at the ABU’s 2014 annual lecture at the Samaru Campus, Zaria, Ahmed enumerated many of the advantages of the research that he and his team had embarked upon in the last two years for the provision of Zeolite Catalyst from kaolin used in crude oil refining.

One of the advantages of this innovative research, he pointed out, is that the Zeolite Catalyst derived from clay, which is available in abundance in Nigeria, has comparative advantage in cost, availability and greater yield in the petroleum refining process.

He described zeolites as “crystalline aluminosilicates containing pores and channels of molecular dimensions” which have various industrial uses in absorption, separation and catalysis. Many zeolites occur naturally as minerals but others have been synthesised of which the most common are zeolytes A,X,Y and ZMS-5.

“In the petroleum refining and petrochemical industries, zeolites have made possible cheaper and lead-free gasoline, higher performance and lowercost synthetic fibers and plastics, and many improvements in process efficiency and quality and in performance,” Ahmed asserted.

According to him, “all synthetic zeolites used in Nigeria today are imported. Clay, a major raw material used in the production of synthetic zeolites, is vastly abundant in the country. Therefore, the Profes-

Minister, NNPC donate medical equipment to Nyanya victims

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inister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, have donated several medical equipment to the National Hospital and the Asokoro District Hospital Abuja.

These equipment, according to a statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, is for the treatment of victims of Nyanya bomb blasts.

Represented by the Group Executive Director, Corporate Services of NNPC, Dr. Dan Efebo, Mrs. Alison-Madueke condemned the nefarious activities of the terrorists while on a visit to the medical institu-

tions to see how injured victims were responding to treatment.

She described the unwarranted attacks on hapless Nigerians as barbaric and called on well-meaning Nigerians to team up with the Federal Government to stop the menace.

She identified with the injured victims and prayed God to grant the bereaved families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and rest to the souls of the departed.

Receiving the representative of the minister and the NNPC team at the National Hospital, the Board Chairman, Dr. Tony Okam, lauded the minister and NNPC for their show of solidarity at this moment of national disaster and solicited the donation of ambulances to help the prompt response to emergency by the hospital.

sorial Chair in Chemical Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, endowed by the Petroleum Trust Development Trust Fund (PTDF), Abuja, was mandated to carry out research in zeolite catalysts development for Nigeria and oil and gas industry.”

Ahmed’s lecture includes what his team has done to improve the current production

technology for zeolite Y and ZSM-5, the most required zeolite catalysts for Nigeria oil and gas industry, the progress made by the professorial chair to synthesise the two types of zeolites through innovative research from the locally abundant kaolin, as well as develop indigenous technology to produce the materials at pilot plants, and establish small to medium

scale production plant using innovative technology.

He stated that one major breakthrough of his team so far is that their “blend of synthesised zeolite kaolin at 75 per cent zeolite Y and 25 per cent ZSM-5 performed much better at cracking of heavy gas oil and hexadecane than one of the best commercial catalysts (available in the global market).”

Oil barrels

New Telegraph sets for OTC 2014 ANOTHER PLUS New Telegraph to update readers with new trends and information from Houston, Texas venue of the OTC

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fter a successful coverage of the just concluded World Bank event in Washington D.C, United States of America (USA), the New Telegraph is set to cover the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, USA. The OTC, which is the World’s biggest assembly of experts and stakeholders in the global oil and gas industry, is hosted annually in the US. Energy Editor, Adeola Yusuf will be reporting from the Reliance Park, venue of the event, where the readers of the newspapers would be given upto-date information about new trends in the international hydrocarbon businesses.

The coverage of the event, which is the biggest platform of the global energy industry, will give readers of New telegraph titles an edge in business trends, particularly

happenings in the oil and gas industry.

The event comes up between May 5 and 8, 2014.

Organisers of the event had earlier announced 12 technologies that will receive the 2014 Spotlight on New TechnologySM Award. The OTC, which made this announcement in a statement, said that the awards will be presented at the conference in the Reliant Center Rotunda Lobby, Houston, Texas, United States (US).

The confab held yearly in Houston, was founded in 1969 as the biggest assembly of energy professionals to exchange ideas and opinions on how to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources and environmental matters. The spotlight on New Technology Awards, a programme for OTC exhibitors, showcase the latest and most advanced hardware and software technologies that are leading the industry into the future.

“Our Spotlight Award winners embrace OTC’s mission to advance technical knowledge of offshore operations and environmental matters,”

said Spotlight Award committee chair, Moe Plaisance.

“Thanks to their pioneering spirit, offshore E&P will continue to play a key role in supplying the world with energy in a sustainable manner.” Winning technologies were selected based on the following five criteria: New: less than 2 years’ old; Innovative: original, groundbreaking, and capable of revolutionising the offshore E&P industry.

Proven: through full-scale application or successful prototype testing. Broad Interest: broad appeal for the industry.

Significant impact: provides significant benefits beyond existing technologies.

“I congratulate this year’s Spotlight Award recipients for helping the industry reduce risk and increase productivity in ever-more extreme conditions,” said OTC 2014 Chairman, Ed Stokes.

“Cutting-edge technologies like these are always a highlight of OTC, as they demonstrate the ingenuity and forward thinking that is advancing the industry to new levels of safety, productivity, and efficiency.”

BUSINESS | ENERGY

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

31

Nigeria gets first Deepwater Simulation Theater in Africa

Oil firm lauds Sterling Bank LOCAL CONTENT Minister of Petroleum Resources has said that Local Content Act will outlive the present government Adeola Yusuf

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igeria recorded first in Deepwater Simulation in Africa as an indigenous oil servicing company, Tolmann Allied Services, at the weekend, opened a Deepwater Simulation Theatre (DST) at its new office complex in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

A statement by media officer of the Nigerian Contenet Development and Monitoring Board, Mr. Obinna Ezeobi, which detailed this feat, noted that the event coincided with the celebration of the 4th anniversary of the Nigerian Content Act. The DST - the first in Africa and third in the world- was conceived by Tolmann Allied Services Company Ltd in response to the increasing number of companies carrying out exploration activities in the deep offshore and the need to prepare from classroom to installation to overcome harsh environmental conditions that may arise in

such industry operations.

Commissioning the facility, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, commended Tolmann Allied Services for investing in such an upscale facility, which, according to her, has further removed doubts about the capacity of Nigerians to own and operate key assets in the oil and gas industry.

The minister explained that the board’s insistence on indigenous ownership of key assets as a major plank of monitoring compliance was based on the fact that it is the best guarantee that the implementation of the Nigerian Content policy will endure.

“Because Nigerians now have stakes in ownership, we are sure that Nigerian Content will survive even after the current officials in government may have left the scene,” she said.

The minister, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Ernest Nwapa, lauded the entrepreneurial spirit of local oil servicing companies who set up key facilities and acquire hi-tech industry assets despite experiencing challenges in the operating environment.

He recalled that local companies under the aegis of the Petroleum Technology Associa-

Total strikes another oil offshore Ivory Coast

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rance’s Total said at the weekend that it had discovered oil in a deep offshore area in the west of Ivory Coast, the company’s second oil find in a year in the West African country.

“This well is the first discovery in the San Pedro Basin, a frontier exploration area in Ivory Coast,” Total senior vice president for exploration, Marc Blaizot, said in a statement.

“Having confirmed the presence of a petroleum system containing light oil, we will next evaluate this very promising find and focus on its extension to the north and east.”

Oil and gas exploration in

West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea has risen sharply since Ghana discovered its giant Jubilee field in 2007 and brought it to production in record time in late 2010.

Ivory Coast, French-speaking West Africa’s largest economy, is seeking to accelerate development of its energy sector, neglected during a decade-long political crisis that ended in a brief civil war in 2011.

Much of the offshore investment to date has focused on waters along its eastern maritime border with Ghana, close to the Jubilee and TEN oil and gas fields operated by Londonlisted Tullow Oil.

Oil rig

tion of Nigeria (PETAN) started the push for indigenous participation in the industry before the Federal Government backed their efforts with the Nigerian Content policy, which thereafter became a law.

Nwapa credited the successes recorded so far in implementing the Nigerian Content Act to the courage and leadership provided by the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the political will and independence to operate being enjoyed under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

WAYOUT EKEDC moves to end grid manipulation and incessant system collapse Adeola Yusuf

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he Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), at the weekend, said that it was targeting 400 Mega Watts (MW) of embedded power supply to its consumers by July, 2014.

Chief Executive Officer, EKEDC, Mr. Oladele Amoda, who said this in a statement

by Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Godwin Idemudia, maintained that this move is to boost electricity supply to customers of the company.

“Embedded generation was the term used for any electricity generating plant that is connected to the regional electricity distribution networks,” the statement said.

The essence of the embedded power generation, according to Amoda, was to avoid rationing electricity supply to consumers within the network, adding that

He said: “You needed a resolute person to lead and drive the changes we have witnessed.

Government gives the board a strong tone from the top to implement the Act.” He assured that government will support any investment in the economy and ensure that such companies get patronage.

Noting that so much had been accomplished in the past four years of implementing the Act, the Executive Secretary said that the board was working to expand the implementation frontiers to create more jobs in

the economy.

“It is from these kinds of service companies and investments we see from Tolmann and PETAN companies that jobs will be created and we will push them to make more investments,” he added.

In his welcome speech, the Managing Director of Tolmann Allied Services, Mr. Emmanuel Onyekwena, recounted the challenges the company faced while setting up the Deepwater Simulation Theatre, noting that the intervention of the minister saved the investment.

EKO power company targets 400MW by July it would also save the zone from depending on the national grid.

The EKEDC’s helmsman said that under the embedded scheme, the energy supply control of the zone that will not be subjected to grid manipulation or issue of incessant system collapse.

“We are starting gradually to round up with about 400 megawatts embedded energy supply by next year. So many power companies had indicated interest to partner with us. At the expiration of the on-going advert, we are going to pick the choice company to partner with.

“Before drawing the Private Partnership Agreements (PPA), the zone will inform the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Agency (NERC) before rolling out the first embedded electricity generation into the system

by July 2014,’’ he said.

Amoda said that about 35 companies had obtained application form to partner with EKEDC on the embedded power supply, adding that the company

was looking up to 100 companies to key into the scheme.

He said that EKEDC was discussing with some big companies such as Flour mills, Honeywell and others who generate more than what they can use on captive power solution.

Amoda, who lamented the increasing vandalism, noted that EKEDC has being receiving low power allocations from the national grid, forcing the company to ration available electricity supply.

He said that the company was working relentlessly to improve electricity supply to the zone.

The EKEDC boss identified shortage of gas as another major factor that was militating against regular supply of electricity to the state.

Amoda, who said that the company has the capacity to receive about 700 megawatts from the national grid, lamented that it hardly receives 250 megawatts, leading to massive load shedding of electricity.

32 BUSINESS | ENERGY

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Nigeria gets Seven Energy’s Oil hits $104 on Ukraine fears T $1bn gas investments INVESTMENTS Temase and International Finance Corporation (IFC) have secured 26 per cent stakes in Seven Energy with $150 million investments Stories by Adeola Yusuf

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he gas investments portfolio of Seven Energy in the South Eastern Nigeria has hit $1 billion, the company has said.

This company, which said this in a statement, also added that it had secured $255 million from new backers.

The company “has already invested $1 billion in related projects in south-eastern Nigeria,” the statement said.

The new backers, according to the Nigerian company, including Singapore state investor, Temasek, are to help fund its plan to build up a gas business in the West African country.

“Seven Energy, an indigenous Nigerian company, plans to buy gas fields and related infrastructure and pipelines to sell gas into Nigeria’s domestic market for use in power generation and industrial consumption.

“It has already invested $1 billion in related projects in south-eastern Nigeria.”

The statement said: “Temasek invested $150 million alongside IFC and the IFC African, Latin American and Caribbean Fund in Seven’s irredeemable convertible, coupon-less loan notes which the company says are akin to equity.

“Together, the new investors would hold 26 per cent of the company’s equity.”

These investments, according to the statement, are a vote of confidence in Nigeria and in Seven Energy’s vision to be the leading supplier of gas in the country,” Seven Energy Chief Executive, Phillip Ihenacho, said.

The company, which is headquartered in Lagos and London, sees opportunities for provision of cheap gas in the local market.

he price of oil rose past $104 per barrel on worries over the upheaval in Ukraine.

Benchmark US crude for May delivery rose 54 cents to close at $104.30 a barrel in New York.

Supplies in the US are ample - the Energy Department reported the biggest gain in stocks in 13 years.

But that wasn’t enough to calm the fears of traders this week, who worry that Russia’s actions in response to the turmoil in Ukraine could be met with sanctions that disrupt exports of Russia’s oil and gas.

Despite indications of a possible diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine, traders remained concerned that the situation could worsen over the coming long weekend and were

PetroChina hikes shale gas spending

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Gas plant

Eni invites bids for Mozambique’s LNG project DETERMINATION Eni gets serious about a new direction in Mozambique

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talian major, Eni, has reportedly invited companies to submit design proposals for a floating liquefied natural gas plan in Mozambique.

Reuters reported that Eni announced its request for front-end engineering and design proposals in a local Mozambique newspaper.

The reports said that the company was looking to exports its recent finds in East

Africa to energy-starved Asia.

Eni holds a controlling stake in the gas-rich Area 4 field in the Rovuma basin.

As part of its development in the country, the company plans to build on onshore and offshore gas liquefaction plants aimed at Asian markets.

Eni said earlier this year that it plans to deploy two FLNG vessels and a number of onshore trains to develop the Mamba field.

A final investment decision is expected before the end of 2015, with production start-up due in 2020.

In February, Eni upstream chief operating officer, Claudio Descalzi, told analysts that one FLNG vessel would be installed at the Coral discovery, along with the two planned for Mamba.

He said that it plans to jointly develop with Anadarko who also operates in the region.

Eni’s share of Mamba stands at 50 trillion cubic feet of in-place gas, while about 35 Tcf is held in discoveries solely held in Area 4.

Descalzi said this was enough gas to support annual liquefaction capacity of 70 million tons.

reluctant to sell oil.

Energy Analyst Jim Ritterbusch expects oil prices to quickly fall back next week if the Ukraine crisis does not worsen. “We still expect some downside rotation through the balance of this month,” he wrote in a note to investors.

Brent crude, an international benchmark used to price oil used by many US refineries, was down 7 cents to close at $109.53 a barrel for June delivery in London.

The price of natural gas surged nearly 5 per cent last Thursday after the Energy Department reported that US storage levels rose less than analysts had expected. Natural gas for May delivery rose 21.1 cents to $4.741 per 1,000 cubic feet.

hinese state energy giant, PetroChina, plans to spend over 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) on shale gas this year, sources with knowledge of the matter said, as domestic competition heats up after rival Sinopec announced a commercial find.

Faced with high drilling costs and the complexity of tapping shale gas, China has struggled to revolutionise its energy supplies. The top energy consumer wants to unlock what could be the world’s largest shale gas reserves by emulating the hectic success of the U.S. shale boom.

PetroChina’s decision to triple its shale gas spending from expenditures on the unconventional fuel over the past few years comes just months after Sinopec Corp lifted hopes that China is near a breakthrough by announcing a commercial find.

PetroChina, Asia’s largest oil and gas producer, has also lifted its 2015 shale gas output target to 2.6 billion cubic metres (bcm), up from the previous 1.5 bcm, according to a company official and a government source.

That would represent only about 2.3 percent of China’s total natural gas output of around 113 bcm last year.

“PetroChina wants to play catch up after Sinopec’s success,” said a government source who has been briefed on PetroChina’s plans.

Since around 2010, PetroChina has spent about 3 billion yuan ($482.39 million) total on pilot shale drilling, according to both sources. The state giant,

which makes up around 70 per cent of China’s total natural gas output, has so far largely focused on growing its conventional oil and gas portfolio.

PetroChina will focus on two pilot zones - Weiyuan-Changning in southwest Sichuan basin and Zhaotong in Yunnan province.

“PetroChina has over the past four years improved understanding of the shale resources and achieved some technological breakthroughs,” said Mao Zefeng, joint company secretary of PetroChina.

“We’re stepping up shale gas development this year,” he said.

Sinopec’s shale work has been concentrated in the Fuling area of Chongqing municipality in southwest China, also part of the Sichuan basin, one of the most promising geological zones for the unconventional fuel. Sinopec has drilled nearly 30 pilot shale gas wells in the Fuling area.

High Drilling Cost The main challenge for both Sinopec and PetroChina is to cut the drilling cost per well to under 50 million yuan ($8 million), half the current hefty rates averaging around 80-100 million yuan, experts say.

That requires a factory-style operation and technological improvements to shorten the drilling period for each well.

At Fuling, Sinopec is now able to drill up to six wells simultaneously from one platform, cutting down the drilling time for a single well to 89 days from 100 days.

PROPERTY&ENVIRONMENT PAGE 33, Tuesday, APRIL 22, 2014

Controversy over cement grades rages ARGUMENT Homebuilders are already adopting the usage of the newly introduced 45.5 cement grade, others are adamant on the quality of 32.5 grade Dayo Ayeyemi

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ecessity, they say is the mother of invention.

The recent introduction of Dangote 3x cement into the building materials’ market has continued to generate emotional ‘war’ among homebuilders, block producers and construction workers over the choice of cement grades for their projects.

While many people are bent on the use old 32.5 grade of cement on the claims that it has stood a test of time, some have already shifted ground to the new 42.5 grade, while others do not see any change in both products but “just mere packaging.”

“Right from time, I have been using Dangote cement for block moulding and it has helped me to maximise profits because it made my blocks to dry fast within two days. So when the new product that will enhance my productivity further was introduced, I have no choice than to comply,” Mr. Wale Asibiyu, a block manufacturer at Ojodu Berger, Lagos has said, while commending Dangote 3x cement.

However, when new Telegraph visited few construction sites in Lekki, the 32.5 grade of cement types were common, while few complaints of scarcity of the 42.5 grade along the axis.

Speaking in one of the sites, a builder, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, said the newly introduced 42.5 cement was not available in the location, saying most of the distributors claims in the last one week was that they have run out of stock, while awaiting new arrival.

Besides, he said high price of the new cement product in few spots where it was available has made many people to stick to the old cement grade.

According to him, a 50kg of the 42.5 cement grade was selling for N2,700, while the 32.5

One of the housing projects in Lagos State.

grade was selling for N2,300.

Besides, he bemoaned high prices of the products, saying by this period of the year when the raining season has set in, the expectation was that the product prices would fall due to low construction activities.

Against the backdrop that many people should have shunned the use of 32.5 grade of cement for the high grade newly introduced, Awobodu said that there was nothing wrong with the former except that the latter’s fast setting and packaging.

He explained that up till now, many people involving in construction projects still alleged that 32.5 grade of cement is the best for them except the commercial block producers.

Dangote Group, Nigeria’s largest cement producer, has restated its commitment to producing the 42.5 grade cement, dispelling misinformation about the quality of its products.

Speaking at a media parley lastweek in Lagos, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Dangote Cement, Devakumar V.G. Edwin, expressed disappointment over the false information being spread among in-

dustry stakeholders that the 32.5 grade of cement was better for building than the 42.5 grade the Dangote Group was producing.

He explained the advantages of the 42.5, insisting that it has capacity for extra yield and ensures durability of buildings as extensive tests had been carried out on it to show that it can give as much as 30 per cent more strength than the 32.5 grade and can be used in making more dense concrete with very low porosity.

He probed the statements from some professionals in the construction industry supporting the false claim, insisting that it was due to mischief or ignorance.

“When technical people say that higher grades of cement

The process of testing these two grades of cement is a scientific issue and it can be quantitatively measured

will crack when used for construction works, it is either it is being said out of ignorance of cement technology or it is a deliberate attempt at dispensing false information,” he stated.

He stated: “There is a lot of misinformation going on in the country. A lot of these unscrupulous operators are saying that the 32.5 cement grade is better than the higher 42.5 grade. This is both ridiculous and laughable. Nowhere in the world has it been accepted that a higher grade product will perform less than a lower quality one.

“The process of testing these two grades of cement is a scientific issue and it can be quantitatively measured. So it leaves no room for doubt or confusion over which product is better,” he declared.

On the claim by some that SON had in times past allowed the importation and production of the lower grade, Edwin challenged other producers to show documentary evidence that SON authorised at any time the importation or production of the 32.5 grade.

“This clamour for 32.5 grade is daylight fraud. Let them

show or produce evidence where SON has authorised them to produce 32.5 grade; obviously they have none. They simply took advantage of the system to produce 32.5 grade.”

Dangote cement has adduced the rising housing demand coupled with increased construction activities for housing delivery and infrastructure development to the new products origination,42.5 cement grade.

The latest arrival in this market, Dangote 3X Cement, is a new and innovative brand. The Chief Executive Officer, DVG Edwin, had disclosed that the company’s adherence to global best practices informed the production of 42.5 grade cement in all its factories, adding that they chose to produce 42.5 cement grade because it is stronger and has better qualities.

“The cement grade possesses higher strength capability and is rapid setting, making it the preferred grade among block-makers, builders and construction workers,” he assured.

Speaking with the New Telegraph, Immediate Past C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 4

34

property & ENVIRONMENT

HOUSING Easy access to flexible mortgage plans has endeared both low and middle income earners to the accommodation units.

Dayo Ayeyemi

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hen the developers of Sparklight Estate came out with the idea to provide affordable residential housing units for both low and medium income Nigerians few years ago, some doubting Thomas did not see anything good coming out of the thick forest chose as the project site.

But eight years down the line, the estate is the abode of more than 514 working class Nigerians, who commune between their homes and workplaces in Lagos metropolis daily.

Located on Kilometre 12, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Opposite Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, the estate is being developed by Sparklight Property Development Company Limited, in conjunction with Gateway City Property Development Company, an agency of Ogun State government.

The location is just seven minutes’ drive to the heart of Ikeja, where the Lagos State Government’s secretariat is located.

The first phase, which comprised of two bedroom semi

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Gateway-Sparklight Estate: Haven for working-class Nigerians bungalows, detached bungalows, three bedroom detached bungalows, two bedroom terrace detached bungalows and three bedroom semi-detached bungalow- 350 dwelling units in all, have been fully sold.

Due to popular demand, no sooner than the houses in the first phase was sold than the developer commenced the second phase.

The housing units in the second phase, which some of them have been completed, while others are ongoing, comprise 164

luxury apartments.

The second phase consists 90 units of 3-bedroom, 15 blocks of six number of 3-bedroom flats; two blocks of three units of 3-bedroom flats; two blocks of six number of 2-bedroom luxury flats; 5 blocks of 6 numbers of 3-bedroom flats with boys quarters; 10 units of two bedroom flats; and 16 units of 4-bedroom terrace duplexes.

The prices of the housing units range between N9.5million and N15million.

According to the Chairman,

Sparklight Group, Chief Toyin Adeyinka , only few houses remained in the second phase, appealing to would-be homebuyers not to delay in their decision to own their dream house.

Already, convenient payment plans have been made available for homebuyers to enhance their chance of becoming homeowner.

For example, even as the firm welcomes outright payment from buyers, it also allows instalmental payment, while

mortgage loan is available for contributors to the National Housing Fund through the Primary Mortgage Bank, Stallion Homes Savings and Loan Limited and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria(FMBN) to access the housing scheme.

Estate’s facilities and infrastructure include interlock/ tarred roads, good drainage system, electricity, playground, clinic, recreation centre, treated borehole, street light, security post and shopping complex among others.

Units of three bedroom flats in Gateway-Sparklight Estate, Ibafo, Ogun State

Controversy over 42.5 and 32.5 grades of cement rages C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 3

stitute of Building, Mr. Chuks Omeife, said most challenges associated with the usage of cement in Nigeria is basically due to ignorance on the part of the people and lack of vital information supposed to be supplied by the cement manufacturers.

He said, “Whether we have 32.5 grade or 42.5 grade, the quality outcome is dependent on a lot of factors which enlightenment must be carried out both by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and manufacturers.”

The result of misuse and misapplication of cement, he explained has been the bane of the quality of houses and works ‘we see everywhere’ describing the situation as unfortunate He said, “ It is unfortunate

that manufacturers have either knowingly or through profit motive refused to give necessary specifications to the cement types in the market and this is because of lack of effective regulation on the part of regulatory agencies.

Before this time, it is only the 32.5 grade that were available in the market and the public has been using. “ The different grades are produced for different types of work and quality outcomes are also different. Unfortunately due to lack of information the 32.5 grade has been extensively used for all types of work with the attendant implications overlooked.”

With the introduction of higher grade, he stated that the expectation was that the quality outcome would improve if properly applied and used appropriately, educating

homebuilders that all grades cement have different uses which should be noted.

He challenged SON on sensitisation of members of the public on the appropriate application of cement, the different grades available to achieve desirable and optimum quality.

He stated, “ SON should carry out sensitisation programme design to enlighten both construction professionals and the general public on the appropriate application of cement, the different grades available to achieve desirable and optimum quality.

“The information to be availed includes the type of water that must be used which must of a drinkable quality and the setting time between the time of mix and time of placement. This seriously affects the strength and qual-

ity outcomes. The nature of the work whether plastering or concrete work, the type of grade of cement used is very important.”

He described the introduction of 3x cement as a good development, saying it would add value to the quality of work done when properly applied.

Former Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineer, Lagos Branch, Mr. Olatunde Jaiyesimi, blamed SON for the raging controversy, saying the issue of grades of cement was not being handled properly by the organisation. “ I think there a kind of business politics going on here. I am not a building materials’ specialist, but the 32.5 grade has been in use in the industry all these years. All of a sudden the debate on 42.5 grade came up and Dangote launched the 42.5 grade. The

question now is, is it that 32.5 grade cement that has been in use over time is no longer good? I have been involved in using cement for concrete works for over 35years and these concrete have passed laboratory tests. These concrete works must have been done with the cement manufactured/sold in the country then. The buildings that were built then are still standing today.

He challenged SON to come out and tell the stakeholders in construction industry whether 32.5 cement grade that has been in use over time is no longer good, adding that there are other cement manufacturers who have not started producing 42.5 grade of cement. “I am sure construction professionals are waiting for SON to clear the air about this issue,” he said.

property & ENVIRONMENT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

35

‘Due to harsh economy, tenants are finding it difficult to pay rent’ Mr. Stephen Jagun is the Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Lagos Chapter. In this interview with Dayo Ayeyemi, he says that many tenants are passing through a difficult time, shedding more light on their predicaments How will you assess the economy as regards the housing sector?

Anywhere in the world, the wealth of any nation is tied to land. If you want to know how wealthy a person is, especially a nation, you have to see the asset it has in term of land. If the economic is doing well, the land will show. If it is now doing well also, it is the land that will show.

Now, talking about returns on investment from landed properties, when things get wrong, even in abroad, the housing sector picks it up immediately. Why we are still praying that we should have a mortgage system, in 2007/2008 crisis during the melt down period, I had the news of some people who vacated their houses so that the bank could foreclose. They ran out of their houses because it was safer for them for bank to take over their houses rather than being arrested. This is because they cannot afford the money to pay back. They believed that when they run out, they can still take a loan elsewhere. In Nigeria’s context, the high and the mighty, even the low are finding it difficult now to pay rent because it is when you have the money you pay.

It is when they are looking for the

house that you can ask them to pay this and that but when they have the roof over their head, they are protected by the law. All over the world tenants are protected by law. If you want to send the tenant out, you have to go through the full process of the law, which does not come over night. It is still simple in overseas because they have set the milestone, and if you don’t pay your rent, you are out in two weeks’ time by law. In Nigeria, it is difficult; you have to go through all processes of filling your papers, assigning it to a court, validity of the case and so on.

Why have they found it difficult to pay? Is the rent is too high for the tenants?

It is because they cannot afford it.

For instance, I have a tenant that when he was doing well, he was working in the bank, and in a flat of nine flats, when there are repairs to be done; he does them without waiting for others.

When you want to carry out repairs and you get to his apartment, there is nothing to do there because he has done it. In the last one year, he was unable to pay rent. I have to come in and convinced that landlord that, this man when he was well to do, he was paying

rent on time. Now I have to enter into an agreement with him for him to be paying installmentally. He has to give me post-dated cheque and would be the one to inform me when to put it in.

I have another tenant, a young man who was doing very well, he was very funny because the day his rent expired, he was already coming with the bank draft to pay. In the last two to three years, he has been struggling, unable to pay his rent. It is not that he does not want to pay but he doesn’t have the money.

Why is the situation like this?

It is because of the harsh economy.

Some people have not been paid, some people have been defrauded and not able to pay, while some people are in court trying to get their money back. It is what is available they are going to pay you. It is not only because of high rent now, but people do not have the money.

The thinking is that the rent has been stable in the last two years?

Well, in the highbrow, it has been stabled but in the low neighbourhoods, it is not. For people paying N1.5 million in high neigbourhoods, and because they cannot afford the rent anymore, they will

Jagun

look for areas where the rent is affordable and pay two years. What these people are doing is that they are oppressing people in the middle/low income neighbourhoods by paying as high as N800,000 per flat, and as a result, landlords will in turn look at how he can immediately send out the sitting tenants in order to collect high rent. This is going down like that. Even in the lower level too, they are having it.

People from Victoria Island will move to Surulere where the rent is cheap; people from Surulere will move farther away to Egbeda, and Egbeda people will move to Idimu, and from Idimu to Sango Ota. I know somebody who moved from Surulere to Ota. His workplace is at Surulere, now he stays with his friend during the week and go back to Sango Ota by the weekend. Some of them stay with relatives and friends during the week and go back to their family at weekend.

Fashola inaugurates 11.7km Langbasa, Ajah-Badore roads INFRASTRUCTURE Lagos commissions inner roads to improve the socio-economic development to the community Dayo Ayeyemi

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ddo-Addo Kekere, Langbasa and Ajah-Badore residents in Eti-Osa Local Government were in joyful mood at the weekend as the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, commissioned major road networks in their neighbourhoods.

Stressing that the roads were part of his electoral promise to the people while campaigning in 2011 which was to focus more on inner roads thereby improving the socio-economic development to the community, the governor charged the people on proper maintenance of the assets.

..Tasks residents on maintenance culture He reiterated during the handing over ceremony of Addo-Addo Kekere, Langbasa and Ajah-Badore roads that public infrastructure are people’s assets hence the communities must take ownership of them in order to prolong their lifespan.

According to Fashola, the newly built roads are expected to last for a minimum of 30 years if well used and properly maintained.

He therefore urged the residents to desist from the habit of trading on the pedestrian walkways as this may push pedestrians and especially children to the road thereby causing accidents.

He said, ‘The community alone has earned 11.7 km of inner roads. We are opening up the community, Badore, Ajah and Addo-Kekere among others. We are opening up not only by road but also by water.

The Badore Jetty is virtually completed and very soon we

will start ferry service from Badore to Ikorodu.’

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat stated that a total of 319 people were employed during the construction of the roads thereby reducing poverty and increasing prosperity.

He noted that the 11.7 km roads were built to interna-

tional standard with service ducts, pedestrian walkways, manholes, drains and others provided.

He added that the construction is part of the strategic inner road development of the State government to connect communities.

Hamzat said, ‘Along the axis is also the Badore Jetty Terminal being constructed by the

Newly constructed Addo-Addo-Langbasa road

State Government. When completed there will be a seamless link of the road and water transportation.’

He stated the roads also complement others already built such as, Kushenla Ojulari, Alternative to Lekki Toll plaza II, Ilasan-Iroko Awe to compelement the on-going development of Lekki Epe Expressway.

36 property & ENVIRONMENT Where you place your furniture in a room will instantly set the tone for how you'll live in that room, according to experts @ www.hgtv.com.

H

ere are seven mustknow tips for arranging spaces, whether you're relaxing, watching TV or chatting with friends.

Determine the size The first step in arranging a space is determining its size.

Use a tape measure to get the dimensions of a room. Then, check the dimensions of the hallways, stairs and door widths leading to the space.

This is the eternal challenge for a homeowner, being sure the entrance and egress of the room are large enough for potential purchases.

Mix furnishings of various sizes Every object has a height, depth and width. To add visual interest to any space, incorporate a variety of furniture with different characteristics. If you're going for a serene, unchallenging area for rest or recovery, keep the furnishing volumes in a room similar.

Use scaled pieces to create balance The size of pieces relative to one another and the size of the space is their scale. Similarly scaled pieces are more serene when used together, but a nice balance of pieces creates a harmonious atmosphere, utilizing the differing physical qualities of height, depth and width throughout

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Creative furniture arrangement guides

a room. When furnishings are out of scale, you'll notice that it just won't feel comfortable or right.

Form a healthy relationship The relationship of items to one another to form a pleasing whole is called balance.

There are two forms of balance: symmetrical and asymmetrical. Bilateral symmetry is like the human body: There are two of everything. Asymmetry refers to an imbalance, such as two candles of slightly different sizes next to each other. Symmetry is very restful, while asymmetry is used to add visual motion and excitement.

Use an artist's perspective Look at your space as a painter looks at a work of art.

There are visual tricks that painters use to create the appearance of depth in a space.

You can use these tools, too.

The first trick painters use is "triangulation." In interior design, triangulation is the placement of two end tables on either side of a sofa with a painting above the sofa. If you can imagine this scenario, it is lower on the corners with the apex of the view just above midcenter at the top of the painting.

Create depth in artwork The second trick painters

use is the creation of depth in artwork, which is a twodimensional medium. Paintings often have a foreground, midground, background and vanishing point. Stand at the threshold of your room. Place a chair, perhaps at an angle, in the foreground closest to you.

The cocktail table will provide a midground and the sofa with the wall behind it will serve as the background. A window in the scene will give you your vanishing point.

Think gestalt All fur niture arrangements have a certain gestalt, or "totality," a "form." Large rectangular spaces can be

dealt with by dividing the "form" of the space into another form.

A long, narrow living space, for instance, can be split in two by creating zones of function. Say, one half is for the sofa, or the function of conversing, and the other half is for a dining set, or the function of dining.

This helps you take the bite out of large rectangular rooms by dividing them into squares according to their function.

Humans tend to feel more comfortable and less formal in square furniture arrangements versus rectangular.

Africa flies on a wing and prayer

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

BUSINESS 37 p–38

An airplane refuelling on the tarmac

Fuel surcharges: The airline industry’s big sham?

Wole Shadare

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t is no longer news that airlines are squeezing travellers. The fees that airlines add to tickets ostensibly to cover fuel costs rose twice as fast as the costs last year, according to a study from Carson Wagonlit Travel.

The study’s findings may be fodder for critics who argue that airlines use the fuel surcharges as a way to be less transparent about ticket pricing. Many foreign airlines and Nigerian airlines use the fuel surcharges as a way to add an expensive fee to tickets purchased using frequent flier or other loyalty programs.

Two years ago, airlines worldwide felt the heat of fuel surcharges. Qantas and Virgin Australia faced pressure from Australian travel agencies to lower their fuel surcharges after the cost of jet fuel fell 25 per cent over the past three months.

The travel agencies argue that the airlines responded quickly to a surge in fuel prices by hiking their surcharges, but they’ve been slow to react to the drop.

Nigerian airlines have also mastered the trick as they have cited huge operational costs by devising new meth-

ods of staying in business by breaking airfares down into ‘fake components,’ including the ‘fuel surcharge’ which is regarded as a trick designed to make passengers pay more.

Many airlines have increased fuel surcharges, claiming that high costs of operations and aviation fuel necessitated the rise in the charges, thereby leaving passengers at the receiving end.

They further argued that the idea of creating this additional price component was because of the rising price of aviation fuel in Nigeria, otherwise known as JET A1.

For instance, a breakdown of an airline’s air ticket (name withheld) to Abuja indicates N500 as Value Added Tax (VAT), N500 for Ticket Sales Charge (TSC), N500 for Passenger Service Charge (PSC), while fuel surcharge is N22,000.

Virtually all the carriers now pad their fares with ridiculous fuel surcharge which travel experts said is being used to fleece government, aviation agencies and passengers.

This represents a significant expense, as in some instances, fuel surcharges are now higher than the airlines’ base fares.

Aviation analyst, Olumide Ohunayo, described the fuel

surcharge as a big rip-off, adding that fuel surcharge is taxable income that ought to be paid to government as it is done in other parts of the world.

According to him, “it is an obscenity that airlines continue the sham of fuel price surcharges in an underhanded attempt to blame the oil companies for their biggest operating cost.

Ohunayo recalled that shortly after foreign airlines got victory from the judicial panel and the concurring judgment of the review panel with a caveat that the regulations be updated to effectively fight surcharge ripoff, “the local carriers quickly latched on it by loading the ridiculous fuel surcharge to fleece government, aviation agencies and travelers.”

He alleged that the whole situation shows the deficiency in the regulations and the in-

Breaking fares down into fake components is a cheap trick designed to blame the airline’s operating costs on suppliers

ability of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to regulate as it were.

He said it was contradictory that the same government that mandated British Airways and other foreign carriers to pay taxes on fuel surcharge is looking the other way when it comes to the issue of domestic carriers, adding, “this is a big rip-off on travellers and passengers.”

He noted that the fact that the oil industry’s products exist in a global market completely devoid of price competition is a separate issue that has vexed regulators for decades.

It’s intensely annoying to the boss of Australia’s biggest travel retailer, industry veteran Graham Turner of Flight Centre, who had called for airlines to reduce their fuel surcharges in response to falling global oil and jet fuel prices.

“At the very least, surcharges should be lowered immediately,” Turner said. “I stress the word ‘should’ because history has shown that airlines have been much more likely to increase surcharges than they have been to decrease them in response to fluctuating oil prices.

“A more sensible approach would be to remove these complicated surcharges en-

tirely and to treat fuel in the same way as other operating expenses are treated by simply incorporating it into this base fare.

“This would create a much simpler fare structure and it would also benefit members of the various airline reward programs, as members are often required to pay the airfare’s fuel surcharge component when they redeem points for travel.

“This can represent a significant expense, as in some instances fuel surcharges are now higher than the airlines’ base fares.”

Turner quotes the example of a return low season Qantas fare to London being promoted

by Flight Centre that is priced from $1809 from Sydney.

The price includes a $760 fuel surcharge, a $728 base fare and $321 in taxes. “In this instance, the actual base fare only represents 40 per cent of the ticket price,” Turner points out.

In fact, breaking the fare down into fake components is a cheap trick designed to blame the airline’s operating costs on suppliers. Many of the “taxes”, for instance, aren’t government charges at all, but airport levies – which in Australia at least tend to be very high.

BUSINESS | AVIATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

An end to airport check-in queue?

Wole Shadare

T

o air passengers running late for their flight, a few sights are more distressing than an enormous check-in line snaking its way through the departure lounge.

But now, the days of queuing to stow your luggage could be over after an airline announced a trial of a new electronic system which allows bags to be tagged at home.

Passengers using the e-Tag will be able to enter their flight details on-line before leaving their suitcase at a “fast drop” point, removing the need to visit a check-in desk and have labels attached.

A separate GPS device, dubbed the e-Track, will also allow the owner to trace their bag’s exact location in the event it is lost or misplaced by airport staff.

Gadgets have been developed by Air France – KLM and will be offered to a small group of frequent fliers in December for an initial trial.

The e-Tag is designed to replace current luggage stickers, as a permanent electronic label which can be updated with new details before each flight.

Passengers can wirelessly upload the information via their smart phone so that details stored on the tag, such as flight number, are updated automatically.

The e-Track sits inside the suitcase, and responds to “pings” sent by computer from either the passenger or the airline informing them of its precise location.

Its battery will last for approximately 10 flights or fewer if the passenger “pings” it too often, before needing to be recharged.

It remains unclear how much each device will cost, but designers said they hoped the products would be adopted by other airlines if they prove they prove successful. The check-in area at the airport often looks like semi-organized chaos. You have lines staffed by airline agents, areas populated with automated kiosks, lug-

gage check-in queues, and passengers roaming around with bags and documents in hand.

Confused about which credit card to use at an airport kiosk?

Any will do, as long as it has your name on it.

Where do you need to go?

You may have checked in online, but does that mean you can go straight to the security lines?

What about your bags? What do you do if you don't have a boarding pass yet? What will you need to show the agent? Do you even need to stand in that line, or can you go to a kiosk?

Start at home From your home computer, you can change seats, print out your boarding pass or use most of the features that check-in counter agents can access, says Jared Miller, senior director for customer self-service at Continental Airlines. “When you request a seat upgrade or C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 0

A South African Airways newly acquired A330 aircraft

SAA tasks travel agencies on excellent services

S

outh African Airways (SAA), has urged travel agencies in Nigeria to continue to provide excellent travel perks to Nigerian travellers.

The airline, in its biennial Billings Settlement Plan forum for travel agencies in Lagos encouraged the travel agencies to go a step further in meeting global standards to ensure travellers satisfaction.

SAA Country Manager, Nigeria, Thobi Duma, said at the event that travellers are

willing to pay travel agencies which provide excellent onestop travel shop services.

According to Thobi, “the essence of the forum is to educate and enlighten the travel agents on the latest development concerning South African Airways particularly agency commission, fare structure and rules including SAA voyager loyalty programme.”

She mentioned that the forum also provides opportunity for the travel agencies to interface and share feedback with

the SAA Nigeria officials.

“In as much as we want to update them about SAA brand and product, this forum gives them the opportunity to share with us those challenges they are facing with regards to carrying out their various duties as it relates to SAA,” Thobi stated.”

SAA Regional Manager North and West Africa, Ohis Ehimiaghe, thanked the travel agencies for supporting the airline in its over a decade presence in Nigeria.

AIR RAGE

WITH

38

Wole Shadare

Africa flies on a wing and prayer Masimba Tafirenyika

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ntil recently, it was not uncommon for passengers flying between two African cities to transit through Europe.

It was cheaper and faster, for instance, for passengers travelling to Ethiopia from Cote d’Ivoire to fly first to Paris with Air France and then catch a connecting flight to Addis Ababa. With no direct flights linking their capitals, most African countries had to rely on flights from their former colonial powers to connect to each other. It still happens today but on a smaller scale; flying in Africa is improving, albeit slowly.

Yet poor safety records continue to bedevil its aviation industry, thanks to low standards, inert supervision and old and poorly maintained planes. The airports too suffer from poor maintenance and offer shoddy and expensive service, says the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global airlines group. While revenue from airports and air traffic is probably adequate to finance essential investments, politics and weak management are interfering with how the money is used.

Still, a major study by a consortium of organisations led by the World Bank concluded that generally, the capacity of air transport infrastructure “is not a serious problem.”

The 2009 study, Africa’s infrastructure: A time for transformation, said that the number of airports was adequate and there were enough runways to handle traffic. It noted, however, that while African carriers are upgrading their fleets, progress with air traffic controls remains sluggish.

Poor infrastructure undoubtedly adds to huge running costs. Airports are often stuffed with high-charging monopoly suppliers, in addition to other government taxes, says IATA. For example, Senegal increased its landing charges by 13 per cent in 2012 on top of an airport development fee of about $68 per passenger - the highest in Africa.

Critics say some African countries are less transparent with how they use the money from these charges. Several other

countries have development charges of up to $50 per passenger.

Brain drain amid growing staffing needs There is little relief from airport operating costs: fuel taxes are high, so are landing and take-off charges. For example, fuel prices in Africa are on average 21 per cent higher than the global average. Worse still, Africa has the highest airfare costs in the world per kilometre, pushed up partly by high taxes and partly by lack of competition or relatively low air traffic volumes on many routes.

Because of poor safety records, African airlines often face higher leasing costs than other carriers.

According to The Economist, a European airline, for example, could be charged $180,000 a month to lease a five-year-old Boeing 737, but a Nigerian carrier could be slapped with a bill of up to $400,000.

The continent’s aviation industry further suffers from lack of skilled personnel, worsened by a brain drain that has seen pilots and technicians joining airlines with better bottom lines. Boeing, a US aircraft manufacturer, estimates that Africa will need 14,500 new pilots and 16,200 technicians through 2031, according to IATA. “African airlines have to raise their game and their remuneration packages to retain pilots, engineers, cabin crew, and airline managers,” says Mike Higgins, IATA Regional Vice President for Africa. Ethiopian Airlines, for instance, is handling it creatively. “Instead of complaining, why don’t we train enough people not only for our airline but also for the region?” Tewolde Gebremariam, the airlines’ chief executive officer, told Airlines International, an IATA publication.

His airline has expanded intake at the Ethiopian Aviation Academy in Addis Ababa from 200 to 1,000 students per year.

Notwithstanding the litany of problems it is confronting, Africa’s aviation industry is C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 0

BUSINESS | AVIATION

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

39

More knocks for aviation agencies' merger CONDEMNATION Unfortunately, this is like a move from the analogue to digital and back to analogue system again

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viation industry stakeholders have faulted moves by the Federal Government to restructure, merge and rationalise agencies and parastatals in the sector.

The adoption of the report of the Presidential Committee on restructuring and rationalisation of Federal Government parastatals, commissions and agencies as it concerns the aviation sector which will eventually result in the merging of its three agencies, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Airspace management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) came as a rude shock to industry stakeholders.

The noted that the move is not in line with the standard and recommended practices (SARPS) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Some industry critics and analysts have said that such move is retrogressive and capable of stunting the growth

of the aviation industry which is already in line with current global trends in aviation.

Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) said that the decision was totally against section 8335 of ICAO regulation which made for the separation of aviation agencies.

According to the ICAO, “separation of provision from the regulation is consistent with principles of good governance; the regulatory oversight function must be seen as independent and transparent.”

According to Nogie Meggison, the chairman, AON, “it is not right to have the NCAA as the referee and the player at the same time. NCAA has been statutorily established in compliance with ICAO set standards and practices.

“We believe that the information given to the committee set up in 2011 to make that decision is obviously obsolete and outdated now with regard to the ICAO regulation which Nigeria is not only a signatory to but has also produced the first African ICAO president.

He was the one who headed the committee in 1999 which separated the agencies from the then federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA) in line with the ICAO regulation quoted above.”

He said that it was unfortunate that after other coun-

tries like Ghana and South Africa visited Nigeria to understudy how the separation of regulatory and service provider agencies worked in order to replicate them in their countries, Nigeria was talking about merging them.

“Unfortunately, this is like a move from the analogue to digital and back to analogue system again. We know that government is trying to cut cost because of the recurrent expenditure being 80 per cent of the budget, but these agencies are self-sustaining without government funding them.

“We plead with government

to take a second look at the recommendation because of the danger it portends for the industry at large,” Meggison said.

An aviation analyst, Olumide Ohunayo, was not totally against merging some of the agencies but insisted that the regulatory authority should not be merged with the service providers.

“I am really disappointed with the recommendations and approvals. The industry has moved and grown beyond merging all the agencies. I support the merging of NIMET and NAMA to reduce cost. But NCAA should be left alone to

regulate the others,” he said, adding that merging the service providers with NCAA would dilute the powers of the regulatory authority.

Also, some industry workers insisted that the recommendation would not work because the aviation agencies were established based on Acts of Parliament and as such will also take Acts of Parliament to merge them into one entity.

The secretary-general, Nigerian Aviation Professional Association (NAPA), Mr Abdul Rasaq Saidu, said that the step has been taken before but it failed.

MMA 2

NAHCO Aviance bags Cargo Company of the Year award

T

he Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, NAHCO Aviance has clinched the “Cargo Company of the Year 2013 award” at the 6th Nigeria Aviation (NIGAV) Conference,

Exhibition and Awards held at the Tinapa Resort, Cross Rivers State.

With the latest award, NAHCO Aviance has become a twotime back-to-back winner of the NIGAV Awards, having won

the “Handling Company of the Year award” at the 2012 edition.

The annual event is organised by by FCI International Limited and it seeks to recognise companies, organisations and individuals for best prac-

L-R: Special Adviser to Cross River State Governor on Public Transportation, Mr. Edem Ekong, presenting the 2013 Air Cargo Company of the Year Award to Head, Business Development and Marketing, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, Mr. Sanya Onayoade, at an event organised by FCI International Limited in Tinapa, Cross River State… recently

tices and outstanding contributions towards developing the aviation industry and related activities.

Some of the achievements that qualified the company for the award include its strong and exceptional corporate governance, broad working knowledge of the nation’s aviation industry, certification and membership of various international aviation bodies, quality service delivery, impressive clientele base and ownership and operation of the largest warehouse in sub-Sahara Africa.

Over the years, nahco aviance has continued to garner awards from notable sources.

It currently holds awards of African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Industrial Training Funds (ITF), amongst others.

Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc. (nahco aviance) is a Nigerian diversified enterprise with interests in aviation cargo, aircraft handling, passenger facilitation, crew trans-

portation and aviation training.

The company currently serves more than 35 airlines at seven airports across Nigeria, with plans to expand operations to other African countries. It handles about 70 per cent of domestic and foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.

The firm was incorporated on December 6th 1979 as an aviation industry’s highest honours for safety and service quality, and has been recertified till 2014.

Pursuant to the company’s commitment to exceptional value creation for shareholders, it is currently consolidating its aviation services operations and expanding across Africa.

The company has also incorporated NAHCO FTZ Limited to drive the free trade zone initiative and enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness. nahco aviance employs more than 1, 700 Nigerian and expatriate staff and in 2012 generated N7.39 billion in revenues.

40

BUSINESS | AVIATION

WORLD'S BEST Changi Airport demonstrates how to make the airport experience enjoyable

S

ingapore’s Changi Airport is a paragon of modern, smooth-functioning, award-winning aiport operation, but its appeal is deeper than that the secret to airport success.

It is the 15th busiest airport in the world. It serves more than 51 million passengers a year -about the same as New York City’s JFK- but very much unlike JFK, it is universally popular, beloved even. Changi has placed in the top three of the Skytrax “best airport” rankings for the past 14 years, and it topped the list

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Singapore’s Changi: A paragon of modern, smooth-functioning airport for the fourth time again this year.

It was voted the World’s Best Airport by air travellers for the second year in a row at the 2014 World Airport Awards, held at Passenger Terminal EXPO in Barcelona, Spain.

“Winning this prestigious award for the second year in a row, Changi Airport Singapore is showing itself to be much more than an airport,” said Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax. “Changi Airport offers a travel experience in itself and continues to develop its quality standards to be named the world's favourite

airport again. Changi Airport is a well-known leader and innovator for the airport industry and genuinely delights and surprises travellers who are lucky enough to enjoy the airport facilities. Changi Airport demonstrates how to make the airport experience an enjoyable part of the journey that is so important in today's fastmoving world.”

Changi Airport enjoyed double success at the Awards, also receiving the award as Best Airport for Leisure Amenities. The vast array of leisure and entertainment facilities is a unique, stand-out

feature for Changi Airport, and underlines the dedication of this airport to ensure maximum levels of passenger satisfaction.

Mr. Lee Seow Hiang, Chief Executive Officer of Changi Airport Group said: “We are honoured to be named Skytrax World Best Airport for the second consecutive year. We appreciate the support given to us by travellers from around the world. This recognition is great motivation for us and spurs us to continue to aim higher. At Changi Airport, we remain steadfast in anticipating the needs of our customers, which is the cornerstone of the Changi Experience. We share this honour with our airport community, for their unyielding commitment to service excellence and with our passengers, for their vote

of confidence.”

The World Airport Awards are the most prestigious accolades for the airport industry, voted by customers in the largest, annual global airport customer satisfaction survey. The survey and awards process is totally independent and guaranteed free of any airport influence or interference in final results.

The World Airport Awards are based on 12.85 million customer nominations across 110 nationalities of air travellers, and included 410 airports worldwide. The survey evaluates customer satisfaction across 39 key performance indicators for airport service and product - from check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration, through to departure at the gate.

Africa flies on a wing and prayer C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 8

Changi airport, Singapore

An end to airport check-in queue?

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 8

to get the optimal seat, you have a better likelihood of getting that seat” by checking in online, he says. Continental also offers an automatic checkin that sends you your boarding pass in the 24 hours before your scheduled takeoff.

Check bags online, save time, money You may save a few minutes, plus a little cash, if you pay your bag fees online; some airlines charge an additional $5 for bags checked at the airport.

When you get to the airport, find the bag drop-off, present your boarding pass and drop your bags with the airline employee (who weighs the bag), advises Jay Parsley, a customer service representative for Delta Air Lines. You can also check the bags with a sky cap

at the curbside check-in.

Use the kiosks Parsley is surprised by the number of people don't want to use the automated kiosks.

He recently transferred from the one of the world's busiest airports (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia) to a smaller airport (Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Ala-

bama), but he says there is one common thread: Many people don't like change. Using a kiosk, he says, should take no more than two minutes. Slowing people down, however, is figuring out which credit card to swipe. If you haven’t printed your boarding pass at home, you can use any card with your name on it to pull up your flight information and boarding pass.

Travellers on a long queue at an airline check-in counters

beginning to pick up, boosted by the continent’s economic growth. “Nowhere is the potential for aviation greater than on the African continent,” Tony Tyler, head of IATA, told participants at the group’s annual meeting last year in Cape Town, South Africa. The aviation industry supports some 6.7 million jobs in Africa and generates $67.8 billion in economic activity, says the World Bank-led report.

Growing middle class By 2030, more than half of Africa’s population will be living in the cities and, according to the African Development Bank, about 700 million will join the middle class over the next decades. This burgeoning middle class will produce more customers who will find it more convenient and affordable to fly than use alternative transport. More competition among low-cost airlines and increased traffic should also result in affordable airfare.

Established airlines are also making profits and flying to more destinations.

Kenyan Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, South African Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and EgyptAir stand out among the pack. Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s fastest growing carrier, is consistently exceeding its profit targets. In August 2012,

the state-owned but privatelymanaged airline became the second carrier outside Japan to operate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a state-of-the-art passenger jet. It bought ten new 787s with a $1 billion loan guarantee from the Export-Import Bank, a US export credit agency.

Africa’s economic powerhouse, South Africa, has the most developed air transport infrastructure network and aviation market in the region.

Its three major airports in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban got face-lifts ahead of the World Cup in 2010 and its national airline, the South African Airways, is the largest in Africa, with connections to over 50 cities across the continent.

To realise their full potential, African governments have adopted a Common African Civil Aviation Policy.

It aims to establish a wellintegrated transport system that would link air travel to other means of transport so that passengers and cargo can move seamlessly—and avoid connecting trips outside the continent just to travel within the same region.

Source Africa’s Infrastructure: A Time for Transformation by World Bank, World Bank Publications, Washington, D.C.

MOM&PARENTING

NEW TELEGRAPH

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OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI oluwatosin.omoniyi@newtelegraphonline.com tosin042001@yahoo.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2014

Children: When mother becomes breadwinner

Pressures of working mother

Oluwatosin Omoniyi

W

hen former Miss Fehintola Adegunju was exchanging marital vows with Oladapo Oyeleke 20 years ago, she was full of expectations and glee. She dreamed of a marriage filled with roses. She didn’t prepare for the reality of being the bread winner in her marital life. Ten years into her marriage, with seven children, the true colour of her husband busted out like a morning star. “He is totally useless,” she said. “He does not support financially. I don’t know what he does with his money. He is not firm with the children. They are not as disciplined as I dreamed my children would be. I told him that it would be better if he were dead. I play the husband, driver, maid, technician e.t.c. There are days I feel like

PHOTO: mommycribnotes.com

screaming and running away.”

What Fehintola found confusing about Oladapo was that he works in one of the banks as a driver and gets paid but taking up his responsibility in the house is a strange chore for him.

As a result of her husband’s negligent attitude in the house, Fehintola takes up about four menial jobs with which she supports her household. She leaves home as early as 5.30am to her various working places, and does not get home until 9.30pm at night. By which time, the children would have slept, or wandered off to a neighbour’s room to watch television which she also has.

Her husband too gets home around 11pm. “Tell me my sister, who takes care of the children? Who checks them when they go astray?” she asked.

Since this couple’s children lack

parental guidance, they went totally astray. Their first son, Olasupo is at a police station (if he has not been transferred as at now) cooling off in one of the cells for stealing N2,500 from a neighbour in the compound. Their daughter, Glory, apart from being a fearful gang leader in Alagbole Akute, area of Ogun State, got pregnant for one of their neighbours in the compound. The third child, Aina turned a petty thief in the neighbourhood. The whereabouts of the fourth child is still unknown. They are all under 20 years of age. All these are happening to her family because neither she nor her husband is around to monitor and instill discipline into the children. Like salt on a naked wound, her husband’s attitude when at home makes the case more irritating. He does not help with

chores that are meant for men. Like topping fuel and oil to the generator or fixing faulty electrical at home. She said the man is never ready to assist in the little he can at home. The only thing her husband is good at, according to her is on bed. “My husband is a horse on bed at night and he has high libido,” she says, adding, “I see myself as a man with just the difference of my sexual organs.”

For Adeola Giang, “I see my marriage as a cross to bear on my shoulder alone. I am only staying in the marriage for the sake of my four children. The moment I see that they are matured enough to be on their own, I will quit the marriage and face the full fact that I am single. In fact, I am a single mother. My husband is as useless as a moron and I partly attribute his attitude to his culture, Birom, part of Plateau State. Since he got retrenched in the bank 10 years ago, I practically became the husband and father to the children. I shoulder the full responsibility of the family on my meager salary. She said what made the burden easy to bear for her is because she was able to build a three bedroom bungalow somewhere in Sango Ota, Ogun state.

After school closing time, she conducts extra mural lessons in four different parts of Lagos on daily basis in a bid to meet up with the home demands.

The painful part of it for her is that while she coaches other people’s children to be the best in their studies, her children are lagging behind because there’s nobody to assist them in their studies.

Even if she wishes to take them along to her place of lessons, she can’t cope going about with her children and getting home late with them, going by the usual traffic congestion in Lagos.

She quickly quipped that her husband helps with the house chores, like cooking, repairing things in the house and helping to maintain the discipline of the children except their academics which is not his discipline. But Giang desires her husband to work either in the office or start a trade, a quality that will make her respect him. She said since her house is located in a new site that is fast springing up with new houses, she asked her husband to start a block industry. To her shock, he declined it because he regarded it as a job meant for illiterate artisans. “Tell me, what does he want to do, to only sleep with me?”

She added that her husband has turned to Baale meaning local chief in the area.

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MOM&PARENTING

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Effect of role reversal between parents C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

“I didn’t envisage this when I married him thirteen years ago, but what do I do?”

Resignedly, she is stuck in an unhappy marriage for the sake of her children.

Manko Thomas, an estate surveyor, with a big firm in Abuja has never enjoyed her marriage of eight years. Thomas and her husband actually stay under the same roof, are seen by outsiders as husband and wife, but the bitter truth is that they are just flat mates. There is no love lost between them. She said she refused her husband to divorce her because of her children. “It’s not yet time. He shouldn’t be in haste for that yet.” The tactics she uses to hold him is by showering gift on him, never asks him for money, so that he doesn’t get irritated. To Thomas, the marriage got dissolved since she started paying the school fees and house rent. Her case got extreme when her husband started collecting her salary and other benefits from the office.

How does he do it? Once the month-end is approaching, he starts nagging her at home, transferring the aggression to the children.

Seeing that the nagging was not working, he takes to beating her to the extent of sending her to the hospital for treatment. One would think that by collecting his wife’s money, he would do the needful in the house. But that is not so, as the children get kicked out of school each term of the academic session.

Their uniform are worn out, they don’t get enough provision in the house. Well, Thomas gets money from other source and fend for her children. Sadly, her children’s attitude has changed towards their father. She said they are now rude to him and at times, they don’t even come home from school during midterm break. “But I have resolved not to leave this marriage yet. I have my target. I am waiting for my children to be matured, so that they don’t mock them.”

Mercy Ogbuji, a Nurse, said if you let a man think this is okay, they will just keep taking advantage of you. My husband quickly changed his tone when I put him in my shoes for the day. I didn’t give him warning and just

Working mom

left for the day. He could get a hold of me in an emergency, but after I left, I explained that I wanted him to see what a mom really does in a day. He did and he is a lot more helpful now. Harsh? Yes but it worked.”

According to Esther Ekong, also a nurse, “I too have been married for 5 years but we have been together for 15 years. We just had a baby and yes, I do feel like a single mom most of the time. I joke that I need a wife, not a husband to take some of the load off me. I hope it will get better as he gets older.”

According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, “women who maintain

families without a spouse’s support are almost twice as likely as married men to be unemployed.

According to a study recently released by the institute, one of every eight women constituting of 12.2 percent are the sole breadwinners in their families and are unemployed compared with one of every sixteen married men making up 6.4 percent.

A new report on Saturday by “Working Mother Media” found that the majority of breadwinning mothers that are surveyed totaled up to 71 per cent and have fallen into their primary-earner role by chance.

PHOTO: blog.heritage.org

Managing the stress of living Oluwatosin Omoniyi

F

or those who live or stay in Lagos, stress is part of living. In fact, it is part of the day to day activities. It ranges from work stress, economic, especially traffic stress and to home management stress among many other stresses.

An old adage has it that “what cannot be enjoyed should be endured.”

But experts prescribe that “what cannot be endured should have a way of being enjoyed.” The good news is that there are ways stress can be managed and endured, even bloom in it. All it takes is creating the time for it. Though, the best stress management is all about taking charge of your life, thoughts, emotions, schedule, and the way you deal with problems.

Stress in a medical or biological context, which means a physical, mental,

or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension. Stresses can be external (from the environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, or from a medical procedure).

Stress can initiate a “fight or flight” response; medical experts say it’s a complex reaction of neurologic and endocrinologic systems.

It can cause or influence the course of many medical conditions including psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety. Medical problems that include poor healing, irritable bowel syndrome, high blood pressure, poorly controlled diabetes and many other conditions. Stress management is recognised as an effective treatment modality to include pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic components.

The Cleveland Clinic in the United States of America suggests how to help combat stress: • Soak in a warm bath or read a good

book.

• Practice breathing exercises, indulge in a massage, or ask your partner for a backrub.

• Jot down your thoughts in a journal or listen to some relaxing music.

• Indulge in a nap, spend time visiting with a friend, or take a walk.

• Take time to reflect spiritually.

• Practice gentle stretching.

Definitely, there is little or nothing we can do about stress. The reality and challenges of life won’t stop pumping in, there will never be more hours in the day, and your career and family responsibilities will always be demanding. But the simple realisation that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of stress management.

Alas!! I’m sure it may sound or look akward to say that there are benefits of stress! Not all stress are bad for the body.

According to the survey, women who did not choose to be the breadwinner were also much less satisfied with the role than breadwinning fathers. “Breadwinning moms have much more stress,” said Carol Evans, president of Working Mother Media. “They are asked to do more at home.”

The study revealed that more women are fast becoming breadwinners. And the biggest issue is that men are not helping with the housework. Only 60 per cent of breadwinning moms surveyed by Working Mother Media said were satisfied with how the housework was divided.

As a statement of fact, the bodies actually need some stresses. According to stress management expert, Edward Calabrese, a toxicologist at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, “Certain pressurefilled situations like the occasional public-speaking gig or cramming for an exam can be good for your health. It’s called “good stress.” Adding that “there are a lot of positives associated with short bursts of stress that ease up quickly,” such as being stuck in a snarl of traffic or sweating through a presentation at work!”

Calabrese described the bad type of stress as chronic and uncontrollable, like the tension caused by an unhappy marriage or a sick relative. In a recent Ohio State University study, it state that brief but intense stress were better able to fight flu. And a smattering of research has linked acute short-term stress to a reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.

FEATURES

43

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newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES EDITOR

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2014

Competency test: Will Oshiomole sack teachers?

Despite court order and low turnout, Edo State Government went ahead with the controversial test for its teachers, writes CAJETAN MMUTA

T

he dust raised by the competency test for primary and secondary school teachers in Edo State is yet to settle weeks after it was conducted.

The test, held in three locations in the three senatorial districts of the state for convenience, has pitched the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) against the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

It has elicited concerns from people with various shades of opinion.

A few days before the test, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Lious Odion, had in a statement reeled out what appeared like a threat and setting the stage for a final showdown with the teachers.

He said: “Anyone who fails to write the test will be deemed as constituting a clog in the wheel of our progress and, consequently, will have his or her name deleted from the payroll.

“We have received media inquiries over rumour of an injunction purportedly granted by a court restraining Edo State Government from going ahead with the teachers’ assessment exercise.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Edo State Ministry of Justice is not aware of any such injunction. Therefore, this is to reassure teachers of primary and secondary schools and the general public that the assessment exercise will still hold.

“As earlier explained, the purpose of the test is not to sack or witch-hunt any teacher but to ascertain those who might need assistance and level of training or retraining required as part of the determination of the Adams Oshiomhole administration to deliver an all-round quality education for the Edo child.”

But earlier the national body of NUT had filed a suit at the National Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Akure, Ondo State, which restrained the state government and its agents from going on with the test.

The teachers had also boycotted the town hall meeting called by Oshiomhole to seek ways to reposition education and ensure improved welfare of teachers as well as a secure future for school children.

But in the suit with number NICN/ AK/10/2014, NUT seeks, among others, to restrain the defendants “from conducting the purported post-employment competency test on members of the claimants (primary and secondary school teachers) contrary to sections 1, 6, 7 and 8 of the

Oshiomhole

Agunede

Akin Ade Ojo, NUT Secretary

Odion

Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria Act Cap T3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. ” Among the defendants in the suit are the state Ministry of Basic Education headed by Chief Patrick Agunede; the Ministry of Secondary, Technical and Tertiary Education Edo state, Edo SUBEB, the state Board for Vocational and Technical Education, Professor Dennis Agbonlaghor (chairman Edo state Teachers Assessment Test Committee) and the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Henry Idahagbon.

The NIC presided over by Justice B. A. Adejumo, in its ruling on a motion ex-parte brought by counsel to the teachers, Mr Olayiwola Afolabi, granted an interim order of injunction restraining the defendants, whether by themselves,

agents, servants or privies from conducting any competency test for the claimants/applicants pending the determination of the substantive suit.

However, despite the court injunction, the controversial competency test was held last month at the University of Benin, the venue for the test in Edo South where about 73 teachers were accredited for the test exercise.

About 14 and 12 were said to have been accredited in Edo Central and Edo North, respectively.

During the exercise, apprehension was clearly written on the faces of the teachers inside the various lecture halls designated for the test.

Those who spoke with our correspondent said they came for fear of losing their jobs.

One the teachers, who refused to give his name said: “My brother, I had to come. What if Oshiomhole wins the case and he sacks us for not coming? Will the union feed me? That is why I decided to come and see what is happening.”

Another male teacher said he was there to observe what was going on.

“I may perform accreditation and not write the test. It is when you see me in the exams hall that you can accuse me of writing the test,” he said.

Despite the low turnout of teachers, there was heavy presence of armed security personnel.

The Chairman of the State of the Universal Basic Education (SUBEB), Joseph Alao, was also on hand to observe the progress of the exercise.

Counsel to the Academic Staff Union of Secondary School (ASSUS), Afolabi, who was at the venue, expressed displeasure over the state government’s decision to go ahead with the competency test even when a subsisting court injunction ruled otherwise.

The lawyer debunked the statement credited to Odion that the court order was not served on the state government.

According to him, the court order was pasted on the walls of the offices of those concerned when they were evading service.

He said: “The moment you fail to obey court order, it is contempt of court. Edo State Government is not above the law. It is on record that a former Attorney General of this state went to prison because of contempt of court.

“If they go ahead with the test, we will file contempt charges against the government of Edo State and we will jail them.”

The lawyer also told the teachers who showed up at the accreditation centre to shun the test.

He said: “I advise the teachers to ignore the threat. There was total compliance in Auchi and Ekpoma and I thanked God for the lives of those teachers.”

Some NUT officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were not there to tell the teachers whether to take the competency test or not, According to them, as adults, each teacher must decide whether to take the test or not.

But while the waiting game and the buck passing continue, the residents of Edo State are wondering whether Oshiomhole would sack the teachers, despite court injunction.

44 FEATURES

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Benue farmers and the Fulani herdsmen’s incursion CEPHAS IORHEMEN examines the crisis in Benue State and the link with Fulani herdsmen’s origin and culture

T

he Fulani ethnic group spreads over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but also found in Central Africa and Sudan in East Africa.

The African countries where Fulani are present include Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, The Gambia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Niger, Togo, the Central African Republic, Ghana, Liberia, and as far as Sudan in the east.

They are traditionally nomadic, pastoralist, trading people, herding cattle, goats and sheep across the vast dry hinterlands of their domain, keeping somewhat separate from the local agricultural populations.

It has been discovered that the Fulani are not a majority in every country they live, but in Guinea they represent largest ethnic group.

Origin and spread The early origin of Fulani is fascinating and deeps in mystery with widely divergent opinions. Many scholars believe that they are of Judaeo-Syrian origin. However, it is generally recognised that Fulani descended from nomads from both North Africa and sub-Sahara Africa. They came from the Middle-East and North Africa and settled into Central and West Africa.

From the Senegal region, they created the Tekruur Empire which was contemporary to the Ghana Empire.

Then, they spread in all the countries in West-Africa, continuing to lead their nomadic life style.

They created here and there mixed states where they sometimes were the dominant group. But more often, they were absorbed by the indigenous population whom they had dominated.

While some have speculated over the origin of Fulani, current linguistic and genetic evidence suggests an indigenous West African origin among the Peul. The vast majority of genetic lineages associated with them reflect those most commonly seen in other West Africans.

Their language is also of West African origin, most closely related to that of the Wolof and Serer ethnic groups.

The Fulani were the first group of people in West Africa to convert to Islam through jihads, or holy wars, and were able to take over much of West Africa and establish themselves not only as a religious group but also as a political and economic force.

They are the missionaries of Islam and continued to conquer much of West Africa.

The Fulani are primarily nomadic herders and traders. Through their nomadic lifestyle, they established numerous trade routes in West Africa.

The adoption of Islam increased the Fulani’s feeling of cultural and religious su-

Al-Makura

Suswam

Abubakar

from one nuclear family to more than 100 people. The administrative structure, however, crosscuts patrilinies and is territorial. Families tend to remain in wet-season camps while sending younger males or, increasingly, hiring non-Fulani herders, to accompany the cattle to dry-season camps.

Town Fulani live in much the same manner as the urban people among whom they live, maintaining their Fulani identity because of the prestige and other advantages to which it offers its members.

In towns, Fulani pursue the various occupations available to them: they serve as rulers, advisers to the rulers, religious specialists, landlords, businessmen, traders, and so forth.

Industrial arts The Fulani are not particularly noted for industrial arts, except for those associated with cattle. They do engage in leatherworking and some craft production. Many of their former slaves who have assumed Fulani ethnicity follow the basic craft of other West Africans: silver- and goldsmiting, ironworking, basket making, and similar craft.

Trade The Fulani are engaged in long-distance trade, generally involving cattle, with their Hausa colleagues.

Often the Hausa are also butchers who control West African cattle markets by controlling access to Fulani cattle.

Division of Labour Herding cattle is a male activity. Tending and milking cattle, however, are women’s

work. Women may also sell dairy products; their graceful movement with containers of milk or cheese is a common sight in West African towns. Adolescent males traditionally have been in charge of moving the herds, whereas their elders deal with the political decisions and negotiate with sedentary people for the safe movement of the herds through farmlands.

Benue invasion Over three years ago, the Fulani herdsmen invaded Benue State and in a bid to capture the rich and vast land suitable for agriculture, which is the major occupation of the people, they penetrated Agatu Local Government Area of the state allegedly killed innocent residents and burnt houses, which rendered hundreds homeless.

The attacks later spread to other local government areas of Makurdi, Guma, Gwer West, Gwer East, Logo, Kwande and Vandeikya.

The herdsmen were allegedly shooting sporadically and killing people on their way.

Seeking solution to the crises The Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, has taken a lot of steps to end the crises. He entered into dialogue with the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, as well as his Nasarawa State counterpart, Governor Umaru Tanko AlMakura, with a view to bringing lasting solution to the killing, but it continues unabated.

The governor further constituted a committee headed by former military governor of the state, Brig. Gen. Atom Kpera and top brass in the police as well as Fulani leaders to find remote and immediate causes of the incidence but the attacks still continue, despite the peace agreement purportedly signed.

What the Fulani want The Fulani herdsmen want to be allowed to freely move and graze their cattle in Benue communities, which are dominated by farming activities usually carried out on subsistence level.

But the occasional rustling of cattle on these farmlands reduces the fertility of the soil and makes it difficult to till.

More importantly, the Fulani’s insistence to be allowed access to graze their cattle is tantamount to inviting hunger and starvation in the state which prides itself as the food basket of the nation.

Burnt houses in one of the attacks

periority to surrounding peoples, and that adoption became a major ethnic boundary marker. They quickly became noted as outstanding Islamic clerics, joining the highest ranks of the exponents of Islam, along with Berbers and Arabs.

The situation in Nigeria was somewhat different from elsewhere in West Africa in that the Fulani entered an area more settled and developed than that in other West African countries.

At the time of their arrival, in the early 15th Century, many Fulani settled as clerics in Hausa city-states such as Kano, Katsina, and Zaria. Others settled among the local peoples during the 16th and 17th centuries.

By the 17th Century, the Hausa states had begun to gain their independence from various foreign rulers, with Gobir becoming the predominant Hausa state.

For the fully nomadic Fulani, the practice of transhumance, the seasonal movement in search of water, strongly influences settlement patterns. The basic settlement, consisting of a man and his dependents, is called a wuru. It is social but ephemeral, given that many such settlements have no women and serve simply as shelters for the nomads who tend the herds.

Those Fulani, who remain nomadic or seminomadic, have two major types of settlements: dry-season and wet-season camps. The dry season lasts from about November to March, while the wet season from about March to the end of October.

Households are patrilocal and range in size

METRO

of Truth

pril 22, 2014

s, others do rape detainees –Policemen

PS

n practice for those e divisions or stations to s or suspects’ wives or cemen allege

s CP

is

nal Police Officer (DPO) in Onikan Police Station, Suent of Police (SP) Adekunle eing investigated for allegdetainee, Miss Idowu Akin-

wunmi, may not be alone.

Some policemen told our correspondent that raping, sleeping with or having unlawful carnal knowledge of female detainees is common among police divisions and stations across the country.

“Awe is not the first. A lot of policemen, including DPOs, are doing it. They would not grant bail except they sleep with the female suspect or a male suspect’s wife, sister or lover.”

But while Awe has been struggling to extricate himself from the noose slowly tightening around his neck, policemen, including his course mates, have been calling Akinwunmi’s friends and relations to ensure justice is done.

Some policemen also serving under the DPo at Onikan Division said that Awe had been carrying out

such practice for long.

“There was a time he raped a male suspect’s wife before he granted the suspect bail,” one of them said.

Other policemen, who appeared to take sides with Awe, said though the DPO had sex with Akinwunmi, he did not force her.

“We have spoken with him. He said he was framed up. But from his tone, we know he did it, though it was not rape. There was no struggle and he didn’t tear her panties or anything.

It was consensual. Some suspects are so desperate that they can do anything, including offering their bodies,” some of them said.

A Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), said: “That the suspect seduced Awe is not an excuse for his action.

The fact that she is a suspect

and he had sex with her is like holding a gun to her head. She had no choice. If he is denying it, how did she know about the inner room in his office?”

Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN) has applauded the Inspector general of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, for setting up a panel to investigate the allegation against Awe. “We call on the investigating team to remain focused, steadfast and professional and resist any pressure to compromise investigation.

“We expect that investigation should be concluded pretty early and that on conclusion of investigation, the report will be made public and appropriate sanctions imposed on the culprits, as deterrence,” its spokesman, Okechuku Nwanguma, said in a statement.

commits suicide over inability to pay debt

be

ged man identified niefiok Okon allegbed himself to death d for his inability to 0 debt. nt, which occurred Oron Road by Edet e, Uyo, Akwa Ibom , shocked the resirea. ered that the yet-tocreditors were disto pay them. to pay, Okon decidlife, to avoid further

It was also learnt that the man stabbed himself several times with a broken bottle.

Confirming the incident, a relative of the deceased, Pastor Edet Tom, said Okon was restless and was going about lamenting his inability to pay his debt, saying that his creditors were on his neck.

Tom, however, said that committing suicide was not the best solution.

He advised people not to

commit suicide because it would not solve their problems.

Tom also urged people to always look up to God in times of trouble because He is the only solution.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Etim Dickson, confirmed the incident.

He said: “A case of suicide has been reported to us.”

Dickson said no arrest had been made as no one had been

linked to his death.

The PPRO, however, added that investigation was still going on to see if Okon was prompted by anybody to take his life.

45

Slain officer’s pistol recovered from robber

Juliana Francis

T

he service pistol of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Peter Tabugbo Chukwukeluo, who was shot and killed in front of his house last year, has been recovered from a suspected robber.

This came after Chukwukeluo’s family members petitioned a Non-Governmental Organisation, Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN), that a police commissioner was frustrating investigation into his murder.

Chukwukeluo, with AP No.94329, a barrister at law, serving in Imo State Police Command, was trailed to his house in Owerri and shot by some gunmen on June 30, 2013. He died later at the hospital.

It was gathered that deceased visited his friends at Mopol 18 Command, Owerri, from where he called his wife to let her know that he was with his friends watching football.

On his way home,

Chukwukeluo crossed a parked white car with some young men inside.

Immediately he crossed, the vehicle took off and chased him to the gate of his house, where they shot him thrice on the head, chest and neck with AK47 rifle.

Chukwukeluo died after telling his wife and other members of his family how he was shot.

The National Coordinator of NOPRIN, Okechukwu Nwanguma, explained that Chukwukeluo’s family members alleged that an officer had been persecuting him before his death.

He said: “When the Officer in Charge of Homicide section of the Imo State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), who was assigned to the case was confronted by the wife of the deceased as to why no reasonable investigation was being carried out with respect to her complaint of the murder of her husband, the officer pleaded with her to bear with him, that his hands were tied.”

Ejigbo builds fire station

Villagers hack man to death, burn his body, car

oint E

aster Monday started as a merry-making day for a man identified as Lawrence, his wife, Lydia and two daughters, Lorena and Lauretta.

But the day ended tragically for the family.

The family was travelling from Jalingo, Taraba State capital, to Benin in Edo State to attend a relation’s wedding.

But between Jalingo and Wukari, a band of villagers flagged their car down.

Lydia said she thought they needed help.

According to her, she reached out to the back seat of the car, thinking they needed water and she had some to spare.

Instead of her kind gesture, the villagers dragged

them from the vehicle.

Right there before her and the children, the villagers hacked her husband to death.

They also burnt Lawrence’s body with the car.

Lydia and the children were herded into a village.

“Use your phone. Tell your people you are in a house in Bantaje,” they told her.

Terrified, Lydia did just that.

But a team of policemen yesterday afternoon raided Bantaje and rescued Lydia and her two daughters.

They were taken to Mutum Biyu hospital where they were being treated for trauma.

Sources said they would be taken to Jalingo before being taken to relations in Adamawa State.

Alake (2nd right) cutting the tape to inaugurate the station, Bamigbetan (3rd left), Vice-Chairman of the council, Alhaji Monsurudeen Bello Obe (2nd left), leader of the council’s legislature, Hon Tanigbola Muritala (right), the Council Manager, Mrs Kehinde Babatunde (left) and other dignitaries.

Muritala Ayinla

C

hairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, Kehinde Bamigbetan, said his administration’s decision to build fire stations was to forestall loss of lives and property resulting from fire disasters.

According to him, the location of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot in the council poses danger to lives and property of the residents.

This, he said, made his administration to build a fire station near the depot to serve as first responder in case of fire

outbreak.

Handing over a Fire Service Station, road and school projects to the communities in the council as parts of activities marking his 2,000 days in office, Bamigbetan said the projects would raise the standard of living of the residents.

He was joined by the former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dele Alake and other top officials of the council.

Noting that the council was the first to be built fire station in its domain, the chairman commended the Lagos State Fire Service for the technical support it provided while the project was under construction.

Bamigbetan said that fire station would not only serve as first responder to fire related incidents in Ejigbo, but also create employment for the residents, adding the station had also provided jobs for 20 youths.

He added that the station was financed by tax-payers’ money from the residents.

Some of the projects included Rainbow Avenue Road, Double Star Road, Kayode Powerline Road, Jubril Olabisi Street, water reticulation and a primary school at Ailegun, named after Dele Alake.

The officials and the residents defied the downpour to receive the projects scattered within the council.

46 BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET

Daily Summary as of 10/04/2014

Printed 10/04/2014 14:48:03.003

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at April 17, 2014 Daily Summary (Bonds)

Daily Summary as of 10/04/2014 Printed 10/04/2014 14:48:03.003

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 7 11 18

Current Price 42.00 42.00

Quantity Traded 23,980 78,339 102,319

Value Traded 956,802.00 3,290,753.33 4,247,555.33

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 3.09

Quantity Traded 813,170 813,170

Value Traded 2,561,264.30 2,561,264.30

915,489

6,808,819.63

Quantity Traded 2,503 20,454 13,701,241 1,151,038 14,875,236

Value Traded 3,704.44 98,383.74 49,560,356.85 67,793,867.31 117,456,312.34

14,875,236

117,456,312.34

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC Daily Summary as of 10/04/2014 U A C N PLC. Printed 10/04/2014 14:48:03.003 Diversified Industries Totals

44 Symbol AGLEVENT SCOA TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 1 1 157 110 269

CONGLOMERATES Totals

Current Price 1.43 5.06 3.55 59.00

269

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Daily Summary as of 10/04/2014 MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC Printed 10/04/2014 14:48:03.003 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) Page

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Activity Summary on Board EQTY NATURAL RESOURCES Paper/Forest Products THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. Paper/Forest Products Totals

Symbol THOMASWY

No. of Deals 1 1

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

Current Price 0.79

Symbol JAPAULOIL

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary as of 10/04/2014 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Printed 10/04/2014 14:48:03.003 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

of

13

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 760.00 760.00

1,200

2,234.00

Quantity Traded 531,000 531,000

Value Traded 265,500.00 265,500.00

4

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

1

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 0.50

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 145 145

Current Price 16.04

Quantity Traded 3,625,073 3,625,073

Value Traded 59,149,643.62 59,149,643.62

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 12 1 66 22 3 25 129

Current Price 51.90 3.80 122.70 120.05 54.44 172.38

Quantity Traded 16,044 4,870 507,146 36,576 156 32,566 597,358

Value Traded 752,153.40 17,580.70 61,468,164.08 4,428,457.82 8,068.32 5,529,555.08 72,203,979.40

4,753,431

131,619,123.02

OIL AND GAS Totals

280

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

Page

Activity Summary on Board EQTY SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

10

of

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 1.15

Quantity Traded 118,531 118,531

Value Traded 132,591.02 132,591.02

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 11 2 13

Current Price 4.39 2.47

Quantity Traded 116,070 62 116,132

Value Traded 505,427.30 153.76 505,581.06

Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC Hospitality Totals

Symbol TANTALIZER

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 200 200

Value Traded 100.00 100.00

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 0.57

Quantity Traded 72,000 72,000

Value Traded 42,205.52 42,205.52

No. of Deals 1 10 30 41 Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 1.80 1.78 3.67

Quantity Traded 1,000 152,048 1,232,211 1,385,259

Value Traded 1,710.00 258,564.00 4,766,774.37 5,027,048.37 Value Traded 620,022.45 620,022.45

Daily Summary as of 10/04/2014 Printing/Publishing Printed 10/04/2014 14:48:03.003 ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

Road Transportation

Activity Summary on Board EQTYPLC ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY

Road Transportation Totals SERVICES Specialty Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © SECURE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY PLC Specialty Totals

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 22 22

Current Price 0.89

Quantity Traded 688,485 688,485

Symbol NSLTECH

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded Page 1,000 1,000

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 9 53 62

Current Price 2.46 5.09

Quantity Traded 55,669 811,742 867,411

Value Traded 136,945.74 4,080,579.33 4,217,525.07

161

3,249,018

10,545,573.49

4,180

256,934,065

3,724,715,668.73

SERVICES Totals

EQTY Board Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

13

Symbol CAPOIL

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Value Traded 11 of 500.00 13 500.00

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 50.00 50.00

Printed 10/04/2014 14:48:03.003 OIL AND GAS Totals

1

100

50.00

ASeM Board Totals

1

100

50.00

Equity Activity Totals

4,181

256,934,165

Page

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

of

Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Daily Summary as of 10/04/2014 Exchange Traded Fund Totals Printed 10/04/2014 14:48:03.003 Daily Summary as of 10/04/2014 ETF Board Totals Printed 10/04/2014 14:48:03.003

ETP Activity Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

Daily Summary (Equities)

Building Structure/Completion/Other CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction

UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Real Estate Development Totals UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Estate Investment Development Totals Real Trusts (REITs) Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) Real Estate Investment TrustsTotals (REITs) Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts CONSUMER GOODS DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers

CHAMPION BREW. PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Current Price 2,159.00 17.54

Symbol COSTAIN Symbol COSTAIN

13

Quantity Traded 5 5,510 5,515

Value Traded 10,795.00 96,645.40 107,440.40

3

5,515

107,440.40

3

5,515

107,440.40

Symbol JBERGER Symbol ROADS JBERGER ROADS Symbol UAC-PROP Symbol UAC-PROP Symbol SKYESHELT Symbol UHOMREIT SKYESHELT UHOMREIT

13 No. of Deals 1 13 14 1 14 No. of Deals

48 No. of Deals 48 48 48 No. of Deals 1 No. of Deals 1 1 2 1 792

Current Price 1.29 Current Price 1.29 Current Price 68.50 Current Price 8.46 68.50 8.46 Current Price 25.00 Current Price 25.00 Current Price 100.00 Current Price 47.59 100.00 47.59

79 Symbol DUNLOP Symbol DUNLOP Symbol CHAMPION Symbol CHAMPION

No. of Deals 2 No. of Deals 2 2 No. of Deals2 1 No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50 Current Price 0.50 Current Price 13.79 Current Price 13.79

Quantity Traded 671,961 Quantity Traded 671,961 671,961 Quantity 671,961 Traded

69,970 Quantity Traded 4,750 69,970 74,720 4,750 74,720 Quantity Traded

950,719 Quantity Traded 950,719 950,719 Quantity 950,719 Traded Page 200 Quantity Traded 70 200 270 70 270 1,697,670

4,564,172.75 Value Traded 42,180.00 4,564,172.75 4,606,352.75 42,180.00 4,606,352.75 Value Traded

23,870,211.60 Value Traded 23,870,211.60 23,870,211.60 23,870,211.60 Value Traded 13 of 13 19,000.00 Value Traded 3,165.40 19,000.00 22,165.40 3,165.40 22,165.40 29,365,660.54

1,697,670

29,365,660.54 Value Traded 7,000.00 Value Traded 7,000.00 7,000.00 Value7,000.00 Traded

20 Quantity Traded 20 Page

2

Page

2

Quantity Traded 8,097 8,097

Value Traded 692,293.50 692,293.50

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR MULTITREX NASCON UTC

No. of Deals 33 48 64 28 1 19 2 195

Current Price 8.18 9.85 68.49 3.70 0.50 11.90 0.53

Quantity Traded 200,400 1,131,777 1,098,837 574,785 100 274,862 38,647 3,319,408

Value Traded 1,644,918.60 11,092,603.34 75,269,183.54 2,109,592.92 50.00 3,261,493.69 20,482.91 93,398,325.00

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 47 95 142

Current Price 77.00 1,185.00

Quantity Traded 2,974,266 211,173 3,185,439

Value Traded 226,144,314.56 249,668,905.02 475,813,219.58

Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 4.03

Quantity Traded 54,800 54,800 Page

Value Traded 221,643.00 3 221,643.00 of 13

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 36 41 77

Current Price 32.00 46.00

Quantity Traded 205,019 240,223 445,242

Value Traded 6,845,097.19 11,220,285.13 18,065,382.32

10,611,861

1,118,833,242.15 Value Traded 42,415,097.00 123,452,297.97 410,882,071.88 12,954,294.01 372,901,666.86 76,726,756.88 30,670,341.20 68,742,555.84 Value Traded 5,105,249.87 1,051,881.50 2,506,647.50 631,624,847.18 1,779,033,707.69

Daily Summary (Equities)

588

Current Price 0.50 0.76 0.97 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.63 0.50 2.32 0.77 0.50 0.59 0.63 0.50 0.50 0.69

Quantity Traded Page 100 1,207,472 245,313 4,410,491 10,000 150 74,400 10,500 5,098,821 5,074,189 10,000 204,700 418,000 30,000 300 11,342,914 28,137,350

Current Price 6.27 0.97

Quantity Traded 1,000 Page 272,000

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC Daily Summary as of 10/04/2014 UBA CAPITAL PLC Printed 10/04/2014 14:48:03.003 Other Financial Institutions Totals

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC IT Services Totals Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Daily Summary as of 10/04/2014 E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC PrintedSummary 10/04/2014 Daily as 14:48:03.003 of 10/04/2014 Processing Systems Totals Printed 10/04/2014 14:48:03.003

13

Value Traded 5,960.00 of 13 264,260.00

5

270,220.00

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 1.64

Quantity Traded 800 800

Value Traded 1,272.00 1,272.00

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 64 33 457 45 29 108 736

Current Price 3.04 2.20 12.35 3.51 20.45 2.60

Quantity Traded 3,031,252 3,319,755 11,354,899 1,334,491 100,882 7,781,504 26,922,783

Value Traded 9,072,922.61 7,233,163.28 140,428,895.65 4,684,332.39 2,039,653.36 20,258,681.38 183,717,648.67

210,633,860

1,990,334,143.99

2,515

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol UNIONDAC

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 60,250 60,250

Value Traded 30,125.00 30,125.00

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals 1 1 20 7 1 1 31

Current Price 2.12 2.92 70.00 1.81 1.45 1.57

Quantity Traded 2,500 9,498 Page 239,074 49,500 3,000 100 303,672

28,019.10 6 of 13 16,701,081.96 86,866.40 4,140.00 157.00 16,825,314.46

34

Value Traded 5,050.00

363,922

16,855,439.46

Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 0.57

Quantity Traded 5,201,000 5,201,000

Value Traded 2,762,570.00 2,762,570.00

Symbol CWG

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 5.56

Quantity Traded 2,600 2,600

Value Traded 13,754.00 13,754.00

Symbol CHAMS ETRANZACT

No. of Deals 9 1 10

Current Price 0.50 2.32

Quantity Traded 1,360,450 30,000 1,390,450

Value Traded 680,225.00 66,300.00 746,525.00

6,594,050

3,522,849.00

ICT Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

273,000

4Value Traded of 13 50.00 918,977.68 239,173.61 2,205,245.50 5,000.00 75.00 47,784.03 5,250.00 11,470,372.54 3,856,667.59 5,000.00 117,679.00 263,340.00 15,000.00 150.00 8,161,530.68 27,311,295.63

Symbol INFINITY

19

Daily Summary (Equities) Daily Summary (Equities)

Page

7

of

Symbol ASHAKACEM Symbol BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM FIRSTALUM PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 33 No. of Deals

Current Price Current 16.62 Price

Quantity Traded Quantity795,608 Traded 49,116 89,657 264,827 737,148 150 20 958,957 2,895,483

Value Traded 13,195,166.22 Value Traded 427,841.93 3,373,937.10 2,480,199.80 173,188,794.62 78.00 86.00 103,897,211.85 296,563,315.52

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 1.94

Quantity Traded 220,200 220,200

Value Traded 420,125.34 420,125.34

Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 1 3 4

Current Price 1.41 19.95

Quantity Traded 3,125 119,520 122,645

Value Traded 4,406.25 2,384,424.00 2,388,830.25

3,238,328

299,372,271.11

Quantity Traded 200 200

Value Traded 1,474.00 1,474.00

BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Building Materials Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

262.20 Value Traded 262.20 13 of of

Current Price 90.00

Insurance Carriers, and Symbol No. of Deals Published by The Nigerian Stock Brokers Exchange © Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AFRINSURE 1 AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO 26 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE 8 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. CORNERST 9 GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. GUINEAINS 1 CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC HMARKINS 1 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS 7 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LASACO 2 Daily Summary as of 10/04/2014 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD 19 Printed 10/04/2014 N.E.M14:48:03.003 INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NEM 29 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. NIGERINS 1 OASIS INSURANCE PLC OASISINS 7 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE 4 Daily Summary (Equities) STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. STDINSURE 1 UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC UNIVINSURE 1 WAPIC INSURANCE PLCEQTY WAPIC 68 Activity Summary on Board Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals 185 FINANCIAL SERVICES Micro-Finance Banks Symbol No. of Deals FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC FORTISMFB 1 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NPFMCRFBK 7 Micro-Finance Banks Totals 8

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials INDUSTRIAL GOODS ASHAKA CEM PLC Building Materials

Value Traded 866,930.79 Value Traded 866,930.79 866,930.79 866,930.79 Value Traded

Quantity Traded 14,000 Quantity Traded 14,000 14,000 14,000 Quantity Traded

No. of Deals 11 11

Quantity Traded 5,658,797 19,591,452 31,605,010 6,124,714 13,759,127 22,361,420 11,771,597 9,593,981 Quantity504,983 Traded 2,103,763 2,525,595 29,699,488 155,299,927

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Activity Summary on Board EQTY

No. of Deals 15 No. of Deals 15 15 15 No. of Deals

Symbol 7UP

HEALTHCARE Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE

JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction ROADS NIG PLC. JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals ROADS NIG PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development

No. of Deals 1 2 3

Value Traded 16,011,048.81 3,154,406.25 511,469,661.49 530,635,378.75

Current Price 7.41 6.03 13.10 2.11 27.20 3.49 2.62 7.20 Current 10.35 Price 0.50 0.99 21.25

HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL Activity Summary on Board EQTY SERVICES PLC Healthcare Providers Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC © Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Quantity Traded 84,301 121,875 3,378,679 3,584,875

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

3,724,715,718.73 12

Current Price 190.00 26.41 150.85

Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 112 DIAMONDBNK 85 ETI 100 Daily Summary (Equities) FIDELITYBK 120 GUARANTY 351 SKYEBANK 156 STERLNBANK 105 UBA 193 Symbol No. of Deals UBN 48 UNITYBNK 3 WEMABANK 43 ZENITHBANK 267 1,583

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Activity Summary on Board ASeM OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CAPITAL OIL PLC Petroleum Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Daily Summary as ofand 10/04/2014

No. of Deals 30 23 102 156

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Daily Summary as of 10/04/2014 Banking14:48:03.003 Printed 10/04/2014 ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY STERLING BANK PLC. FINANCIAL SERVICES UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC Banking UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. EQTY Food Products--Diversified Totals CONSUMER GOODS Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Symbol GUINNESS INTBREW NB

NATURAL RESOURCES Metals ALUMINIUM MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Metals Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

12 16 14 43 2 1 50 171

8.76 37.75 9.48 235.00 0.50 4.10 108.00

187 Symbol ALUMACO

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 7.75

Page Page

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BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 47

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

16-Apr-14

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement.

Bonds

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

NA

NA

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

29-Jun-07 28-Sep-07 23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10

9.20 9.25 4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00

45.00 100.00 535.00 327.47 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 50.00 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

29-Jun-14 28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30

0.20 0.45 1.02 2.33 3.03 3.28 3.38 4.12 5.20 5.52 7.78 9.91 14.62 15.10 15.60 16.27

11.58 12.43 13.42 13.33 13.36 13.26 13.26 13.29 13.42 13.34 13.46 13.43 13.44 13.45 13.46 13.52

10.84 12.07 13.25 13.26 13.24 13.13 13.14 13.19 13.34 13.25 13.40 13.38 13.40 13.40 13.40 13.47

99.46 98.62 91.29 99.40 104.20 91.13 89.61 91.94 109.40 75.76 113.80 104.10 109.80 93.82 67.97 77.00

99.61 98.77 91.44 99.55 104.50 91.43 89.91 92.24 109.70 76.06 114.10 104.40 110.10 94.12 68.27 77.30

9.20 29-JUN-2014 9.25 28-SEP-2014 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

Price

4,132.04 Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

Description

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

#

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.54 1.10 1.59 2.65 3.01 3.22

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

13.73 16.04 15.62 15.26 14.73 14.25

93.10 84.33 102.26 92.02 89.18 87.70

05-Aug-14 15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.30 0.50 1.38 0.98 1.27 1.28 3.01 1.84 3.71 2.68 4.47 2.68 2.68 3.26 3.33 5.60 3.30 4.01 6.62 6.71 4.02 4.05

4.88 5.99 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 7.60 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 1.21 1.00 2.46 1.94 2.74 2.74 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

17.15 18.65 17.82 16.62 17.85 16.87 18.83 20.92 15.06 15.06 14.31 14.26 14.47 14.26 15.72 15.29 16.00 16.03 14.37 15.32 14.73 15.24

98.95 97.88 93.72 97.02 95.91 98.81 80.38 89.62 97.00 97.86 99.00 100.68 109.21 100.66 99.52 97.07 97.02 96.44 96.31 98.64 106.26 105.91

1,304.32

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR

KWARA NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

05-Aug-09 15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 30-Sep-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

14.00 14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00

17.00 6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00 5.00 5.00 5.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

572.90

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; AA/GCR

LAFARGE WAPCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014

Aa/Agusto

GTB µ NGC

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

Nil

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

NAHCO FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto A/GCR BBB-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

*FLOURMILLS

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

*TOWER# *LA CASERA # *CHELLARAMS

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

07-Oct-11

11.50

11.80

07-Oct-14

0.48

1.00

13.62

99.04

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.67

5.21

18.14

97.11

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.71

8.71

21.69

96.96

17-Aug-10 09-Dec-10

10.00 12.00

15.00 37.50

17-Aug-15 09-Dec-15

0.86 0.93

4.88 1.00

18.09 14.32

93.95 98.14

06-Jan-11

14.00

1.50

06-Jan-16

1.02

2.63

16.05

98.48

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.46

1.00

14.27

97.42

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.53

1.34

14.61

99.25

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.46

4.52

17.78

88.01

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.94

30-Nov-17

2.07

1.88

15.17

106.03

09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11

16.00 18.00

8.01 3.63

09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18

2.23 2.40

3.48 5.20

16.77 18.48

98.72 99.35

09-Sep-11

16.00

1.00

09-Sep-18

2.40

5.06

18.34

101.90

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

4.44

3.06

16.37

92.71

18-Oct-13

15.75

3.00

18-Oct-18

2.26

2.29

15.57

100.35

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.54

17-Feb-19

2.59

6.11

19.38

95.74

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.58

2.76

16.13

96.46

11-Feb-18

3.83

1.00

14.28

88.25

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

175.67

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

12.00 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($'mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.37

5.22

107.77

108.64

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.50

4.31

102.36

103.10

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.84

5.70

103.77

104.75

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

Corporate Eurobonds Afren PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.86

3.40

112.97

113.83

GTBank PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.30

4.53

104.27

105.81

GTBank PLC II

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.12

5.85

99.54

100.61

B+/S&P

Access Bank PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.99

6.49

100.74

102.19

B/S&P; B/Fitch

Fidelity Bank PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.41

7.88

94.83

96.59

B/Fitch

Afren PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

5.05

4.65

114.23

115.06

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

First Bank PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.13

6.68

104.07

105.76

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

Afren PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.24

6.00

101.50

102.50

B-/S&P; B/Fitch B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

2,960.00

**Treasury Bills DTM 8 22 29 36 43 50 64

FIXINGS Maturity 24-Apr-14 8-May-14 15-May-14 22-May-14 29-May-14 5-Jun-14 19-Jun-14

Bid Discount (%) 11.50 11.50 11.45 11.40 11.90 12.00 12.00

Offer Discount (%) 11.25 11.25 11.20 11.15 11.65 11.75 11.75

Bid Yield (%) 11.53 11.58 11.56 11.53 12.07 12.20 12.26

Tenor CALL 7 DAYS 30 DAYS 60 DAYS 90 DAYS 180 DAYS

NIBOR

Money Market Rate (%) 10.9167 11.2500 11.5000 11.8333 12.1250 12.4167

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.33

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

10.58

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M

162.20 162.42 162.68 163.26 164.43

162.30 162.70 163.06 163.98 165.76

O/N Tenor Call

REPO

Rate (%) 10.25

16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030

27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10

16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00

600.00 50.00 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30

7.78 9.91 14.62 15.10 15.60 16.27

13.46 13.43 13.44 13.45 13.46 13.52

13.40 13.38 13.40 13.40 13.40 13.47

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.54 1.10 1.59 2.65 3.01 3.22

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

05-Aug-14 15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.30 0.50 1.38 0.98 1.27 1.28 3.01 1.84 3.71 2.68 4.47 2.68 2.68 3.26 3.33 5.60 3.30 4.01 6.62 6.71 4.02 4.05

113.80 104.10 109.80 93.82 67.97 77.00

114.10 104.40 110.10 94.12 68.27 77.30

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

4,132.04 Description

Issuer

Issue Date

48 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Agency Bonds

AMCON FMBN

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

#

Sanctity of Truth

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

13.73 Tuesday, April93.10 22, 2014 16.04 15.62 15.26 14.73 14.25

84.33 102.26 92.02 89.18 87.70

4.88 5.99 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 7.60 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 1.21 1.00 2.46 1.94 2.74 2.74 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

17.15 18.65 17.82 16.62 17.85 16.87 18.83 20.92 15.06 15.06 14.31 14.26 14.47 14.26 15.72 15.29 16.00 16.03 14.37 15.32 14.73 15.24

98.95 97.88 93.72 97.02 95.91 98.81 80.38 89.62 97.00 97.86 99.00 100.68 109.21 100.66 99.52 97.07 97.02 96.44 96.31 98.64 106.26 105.91

Low investment education, bane of NSE renews call for listing fund management –AIICO Capital of strategic companies NA

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,304.32

Sub-National Bonds

A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR

KWARA NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

ENLIGHTENMENT Need for awareness campaign to boost investors’ interest Chris Ugwu

M

anaging Director, AIICO Capital Limited, Mr. Dipo Oguntuga, has identified low investTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE ment education as a major chalCorporate Bonds lenge facing fund management A+/Agusto; AA/GCR LAFARGE WAPCO GTB inAa/Agusto the country. µ NGC Nil Oguntuga, in a chat with Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS New Telegraph, said that inBB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS creased awareness will A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO help A-/Agusto FSDH ginger investors’ interest on A/GCR UBA fund management.

BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *DANA#investHe called for two-fold A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWER# # ment awareness regulaAAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR from *TOWER A/Agusto; A/GCR UBA tors and fund managers sayBbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA # ing that many people were not BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO don’t investing because they TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE know the existence and benSupranational Bond

AAA/S&P

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

efits of products that are being introduced in the market by fund managers.

“Investors need to be properly educated; Nigeria is still in the region of emerging middle class which made the country to be potential for the fund management industry. Statistics, for instance, show that contribution of mutual funds to GDP is just a little above one per cent which is very low. That means a lot need to be done as regards funds management and 11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014aware13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 ness,” he said.

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 Oguntuga envisaged an 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 industry induced merger and 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 acquisition among operators 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 of 14.25 fund management in the 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 country 18.00 C&I. LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 He further said that the inMPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 dustry highly fragmented MPR+5.25is TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 with most operators lacking 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 both human and capital capacMPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 ity15.25 . NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 “The industry is highly frag10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

05-Aug-09 15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 30-Sep-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

14.00 14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00

mented with a lot of fund managers and stockbroking firms and there are just about 5 to 10 active ones that control the market. I think that in future, we might see some consolidation, some merger and acquisition. What this will do is to form synergy and try to combine strengths of the big ones and weaknesses of the smaller ones. It will ensure economic of scale because there are so many of them that don’t have the capacity to survive under 07-Oct-11 11.50tougher 18-Dec-09 terrain,” he said. 13.50 01-Apr-10 17.00 Oguntuga also stressed the 17-Aug-10 10.00 12.00 need09-Dec-10 to introduce variety of 06-Jan-11 14.00 products targeted at various 29-Sep-11 13.00 25-Oct-13 investors, adding 14.25 that such 30-Sep-10 13.00 would see more patronage in 30-Nov-12 18.00 09-Apr-11 16.00 the industry .

09-Sep-11 18.00 “Fund managers16.00 still need 09-Sep-11 22-Sep-11 to increase their 14.00 capacity, 18-Oct-13 15.75 when17-Feb-12 they are bigger, they can 17.00 14-Nov-13 15.25 do more transaction and also create more products,” he said.

17.00 6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00 5.00 5.00 5.00

Chris Ugwu

T

he Nigerian Capital Market has renewed call for public utilities and other companies of national and strategic importance to be quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange to help the growth and development of the domestic economy.

The call is coming against the backdrop of recent dual 572.90 listing of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc 11.80 07-Oct-14 0.48on 13.17 0.67 the Nigeria18-Dec-14 Stock Exchange 2.00 31-Dec-14 0.71 and London Stock Exchange.

15.00 17-Aug-15 0.86 37.50 09-Dec-15 0.93 Chief Executive Officer, 1.50 06-Jan-16 1.02 NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, 15.00 29-Sep-16 2.46 5.53 25-Oct-16 2.53 urged exploration and produc20.00 30-Sep-17 3.46 tion companies in the Oil 0.94 30-Nov-17 2.07 & 8.01 09-Apr-18 2.23 Gas sector and other unlisted 3.63 09-Sep-18 2.40 companies in Nigeria, to take 1.00 09-Sep-18 2.40 35.00 advantage of22-Sep-18 the benefits4.44 that 3.00 18-Oct-18 2.26 exist in the capital market 0.54 17-Feb-19 2.59 to 2.05 their shares.

14-Nov-20 6.58 list 175.67 Onyema listed some of the benefits to include continu11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.83 ity of the company after the 12.00 founder has retired, lower Issue Date Coupon (%) Issue Value ($'mm) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) cost of long term funding, holiday destination, it also of- visibility, enhanced branding, fers a07-Oct-11 conducive business envi- 500.00 diversified risk of ownership, 6.75 28-Jan-21 5.37 ronment for Nigerians. and enhanced corporate gov18-Dec-09 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 4.50 He noted that Guaranty Trust ernance, among others.

Bank01-Apr-10 (GTB) is taking6.38 the initia- 500.00He noted12-Jul-23 that NSE in5.84retive to bring the peoples together 1,500.00 cent years has placed corpoadding that Nigerians will find rate governance on the front 01-Feb-11 a fascinating 11.50 coun450.00 01-Feb-16 3.86elburner as one of the basic the Gambia 19-May-11 7.50 500.00 19-May-16 5.30 try to visit in terms of its tour- ements for ensuring a sound 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 6.12 investment environment and ism attractions and as a suitable 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 6.99 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 maximising02-May-18 shareholder8.41reenvironment for business.

Gambia Lures Nigeria investors IFC

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

T

Description

Issuer

heEurobonds Director-General, The FGN Gambia Tourism Board, BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P Mr. Benjamin Roberts, has BB-/Fitch; FGN BB-/S&P disclosed that his country has BB-/Fitch; open door investment policies BB-/S&P TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE and modern facilities ready to offer valuable support to NigeCorporate Eurobonds B-/S&P; B/Fitch Afrenlooking PLC I rian investors who are GTBank PLC I B+/Fitch their frontiers to at B+/S&P; expanding GTBank PLC II the Gambia.

B+/S&P Access Bank PLC B/S&P; B/Fitchsaid that while Fidelity Bank PLC Roberts Nige-

ria and The Gambia currently enjoy excellent bilateral rela6.75 JAN 28, 2021 tions, the relationship has yet 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 to reflect in the level of interac6.38 JUL 12, 2023 tion between the people of both countries, adding that the country would be offering a range of 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 incentives to Nigerian investors.

7.50 MAY 19, 2016 Roberts, in a statement, 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 said that though the is 7.25 JUL 25,country 2017 6.88Africa’s MAY 09, 2018biggest known as West 10.25 APR 08, 2019

B/Fitch

Afren PLC II

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

First Bank PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

Afren PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

turns.

Onyema said that the exchange would continue to enforce its rules in a firm and fair manner in order to build a strong investment climate for issuers and market participants.

“At the Nigerian Stock Exchange, we are aiming to become the African exchange of choice for African issuers and global investors. We continue to execute several key initiatives aimed at99.04 devel1.00 that are 13.62 5.21 18.14 97.11 oping a more transparent, 8.71 21.69 96.96 liquid market, 4.88 and accessible 18.09 93.95 1.00 14.32 with a modern market98.14 struc2.63 16.05 98.48 ture to support the delivery 1.00 14.27 97.42 of 1.34 14.61 99.25 a wider range of investment 4.52 17.78 88.01 products.

By implementing 1.88 15.17 106.03 3.48 16.77 98.72 these initiatives, the Nigerian 5.20 18.48 99.35 bourse has regained the con5.06 18.34 101.90 3.06 16.37 92.71 fidence of investors after the 2.29 15.57 100.35 global financial meltdown,” 6.11 19.38 95.74 16.13 96.46 he2.76 said.

He noted that the recent rebasing of the Nigerian GDP 1.00 14.28 88.25 further highlighted the low market cap of listed compaOffer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price nies-to-GDP ratio, and that listing of Seplat will boost Prices & Yields the5.22NSE’s market capitalisa107.77 108.64 tion by $1.9 billion, bringing 4.31 102.36 103.10 the ratio to 15.86 per cent.

103.77 5.70 104.75 This ratio, according to him, indicates the significant opportunities for growth in 112.97 113.83 the3.40 capital market in the coun104.27 105.81 try4.53 hence the need to encour5.85 99.54 100.61 age more companies to quote 6.49 100.74 102.19 94.83 96.59 on7.88 the exchange.

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

5.05

4.65

114.23

115.06

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.13

6.68

104.07

105.76

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.24

6.00

101.50

09-Dec-13 6.63 FMDQ Daily Quotations List

2,960.00

102.50 16-Apr-14

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to **Treasury Bills PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement.

FIXINGS Money Market the FMDQ OTC Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

DTM 8 22 FGN Bonds29 36 43 Rating/Agency 50 64 71 78 85 92 99 106 113 120 127 NA 141 176 232 267 281 295 309 323 358

Maturity 24-Apr-14 8-May-14 15-May-14 22-May-14 29-May-14 Issuer 5-Jun-14 19-Jun-14 26-Jun-14 3-Jul-14 10-Jul-14 17-Jul-14 24-Jul-14 31-Jul-14 7-Aug-14 14-Aug-14 21-Aug-14 NA 4-Sep-14 9-Oct-14 4-Dec-14 8-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 9-Apr-15

Bid Discount (%) 11.50 11.50 11.45 11.40 11.90 Description 12.00 12.00 9.20 29-JUN-2014 11.90 9.25 28-SEP-2014 12.05 11.05 4.00 23-APR-2015 11.00 13.05 16-AUG-2016 11.65 15.10 27-APR-2017 11.60 9.85 27-JUL-2017 11.60 9.35 31-AUG-2017 12.05 12.05 10.70 30-MAY-2018 11.80 16.00 29-JUN-2019 11.90 7.00 23-OCT-2019 11.55 16.39 27-JAN-2022 12.20 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.10 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.25 12.30 12.49 22-MAY-2029 12.10 8.50 20-NOV-2029 12.20

10.00 23-JUL-2030

Offer Discount (%) 11.25 11.25 11.20 11.15 11.65 Issue Date 11.75 11.75 29-Jun-07 11.65 28-Sep-07 11.80 10.80 23-Apr-10 10.75 16-Aug-13 11.40 27-Apr-12 11.35 27-Jul-07 11.35 31-Aug-07 11.80 11.80 30-May-08 11.55 29-Jun-12 11.65 23-Oct-09 11.30 27-Jan-12 11.95 14-Mar-14 11.85 28-Nov-08 12.00 12.05 22-May-09 11.85 20-Nov-09 11.95

23-Jul-10

Bid Yield (%) 11.53 11.58 11.56 11.53 12.07 Coupon (%) 12.20 12.26 9.20 12.18 9.25 12.37 11.34 4.00 11.31 13.05 12.03 15.10 12.00 9.85 12.03 9.35 12.55 12.58 10.70 12.36 16.00 12.62 7.00 12.47 16.39 13.40 14.20 13.34 15.00 13.60 13.73 12.49 13.55 8.50 13.86

NIBOR Tenor Rate (%) CALL 10.9167 7 DAYS 11.2500 30 DAYS 11.5000 Outstanding 60 DAYSValue 11.8333 Maturity Date 90 DAYS 12.1250 (N'bn) 180 DAYS 12.4167 45.00 29-Jun-14 365 DAYS 12.7083

Bonds

100.00 28-Sep-14 535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 327.47 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 452.80 27-Apr-17 1M 11.3163 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 12.0703 100.00 31-Aug-17 3M 12.3982 6M 12.5692 300.00 30-May-18 9M 13.1934 351.30 29-Jun-19 12M 13.9110 233.90 23-Oct-19 600.00 27-Jan-22 50.00 14-Mar-24 NIFEX 75.00 28-Nov-28 Current Price ($/N) 150.00 22-May-29 BID($/N)200.00 162.0225 20-Nov-29 OFFER ($/N) 162.1225 591.57 23-Jul-30

10.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE *from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.33

Tenor

O/N

10.58

Spot 7D Offer14D Yield 1M (%) 2M 10.84 3M 12.07 6M 1Y 13.25

REPO TTM (Yrs) BidRate Yield (%) Tenor (%) Call

10.25

0.20 11.58 1M 11.08 0.45 12.43 3M 12.17 6M 12.50 1.02 13.42 2.33 13.33 13.26 NOTE: 3.03 13.36 13.24 3.28 13.26 13.13 :Benchmarks 3.38 Bond 13.26 13.14 * :Amortising µ :Convertible 4.12 Bond 13.29 13.19 AMCON:5.20 Asset Management13.42 Corporation of Nigeria 13.34 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 5.52 13.34 13.25 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 7.78 13.46 13.40 IFC: International Finance Corporation 9.91 Contractors Receivables 13.43 13.38 LCRM: Local Management 13.44 Company 13.40 NAHCO:14.62 Nigerian Aviation Handling NGC: Nigeria-German Company 15.10 13.45 13.40 UBA: United Bank for Africa 15.60 13.46 13.40 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 16.27 13.52 13.47 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

4,132.04

#

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON NA

FMBN Modified Duration Buckets ***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto

<3 3<5 >5 KWARA Market NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER

Description

Issue Date

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 Total Outstanding Porfolio Market Value(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 Volume(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

797.32 1,067.12 455.51 2,319.95 14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

780.27 951.30 591.57 2,323.14

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 Weighting 09-Dec-11by Outstanding 20-Apr-12Vol 06-Jul-12

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

FMDQ FGN 0.00 BOND INDEX 978.35

33.59 40.95 25.46 100.00 05-Aug-09 15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13

0.00 17.25 Weighting

by Mkt 0.00/16.00 Value 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

34.37 46.00 19.63 14.00100.00 14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00

24.56 6.00 112.22 Bucket Weighting 116.70 66.49

1,304.32 0.34 17.00 6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00

0.41 0.25 1.00

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

162.20 Price 162.30 162.42 162.70 163.06 Offer Price Bid162.68 Price 163.26 163.98 164.43 165.76 99.46 99.61 165.70 167.66 98.62 98.77 169.34 173.56 176.35 185.44 91.29 91.44

99.40 99.55 104.20 104.50 91.13 91.43 NA :Not Applicable 89.61 Rate Bond 89.91 # :Floating ***: Deferred 91.94 coupon bonds 92.24 109.40 109.70 †: Bond rating expired 75.76 76.06 113.80 114.10 104.10 104.40 109.80 110.10 93.82 94.12 67.97 68.27 77.00 77.30

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 %09-Dec-16 Exposure_ Mod_Duration 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.54 1.10 1.59 2.65Yield Implied 3.01 3.22

1.00 2.63 2.27 Implied 2.00 Portfolio 1.49Price 1.00

13.73 16.04 15.62 15.26 INDEX 14.73 14.25

93.10 84.33 102.26 YTD Return 92.02 (%) 89.18 87.70

17.41 40.83 41.76 100.00 05-Aug-14 15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18

13.35 13.45 13.52 13.46 0.30 0.50 1.38 0.98 1.27 1.28 3.01 1.84 3.71 2.68 4.47 2.68 2.68

109.9717 121.4495 84.3892 108.1574 4.88 5.99 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 7.60 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 1.21

1,044.51 1,028.39 1,021.60 1,026.27 17.15 18.65 17.82 16.62 17.85 16.87 18.83 20.92 15.06 15.06 14.31 14.26 14.47

4.4507 2.8388 2.1599 2.6273 98.95 97.88 93.72 97.02 95.91 98.81 80.38 89.62 97.00 97.86 99.00 100.68 109.21

BUSINESS | MONEY LINE 49

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Nigeria’s external trade hits N5.658tn

GROWTH Third quarter 2013 transaction increased by 5.9 per cent

of N1.488 trillion.

It said that trade balance was 30.6 per cent lower than what was recorded for the second quarter while the crude oil component of exports in the third quarter of 2013 stood at N3.087 trillion, indicating an increase of N377.5 billion, or 13.9 per cent, when compared with the second of 2013

Abdulwahab Isa ABUJA

A

trade report released at the weekend by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) put Nigeria’s external merchandise trade in the third quarter of 2013 at N5.658 trillion.

The figure is higher than N5.341 trillion recorded in the second quarter of 2013 in the report signed by the StatisticianGeneral of the Federation/Chief Executive, NBS, Dr. Yemi Kale.

According to the report, the N317 billion represents an increase of 5.9 per cent over what was recorded in the second quarter.

The report attributed the 30.4 per cent rise in the value of imports from N1.598 trillion in the second quarter of 2013 to N2.084 trillion in the third quarter of 2013.

The rising imports coupled with a 4.5 per cent decline in exports from N3.742 trillion in the second quarter of 2013 to N3.573 trillion in the third quarter resulted in a trade balance

The non-crude oil component of exports exhibited a sharp decline of 52.9 per cent from N1.033 trillion recorded in the second quarter to N486.4 billion in third quarter.

On year-on-year, NBS said that crude oil and non-crude oil exports were down by 25.9 per cent and 72.1 per cent respectively.

Nigeria, others ill-prepared for AfDB’s N1bn climate change projects

N

igerian and some African countries are ill-prepared to access African Development Bank’s N1 billion international climate finance fund.

The Director of AfDB’s Energy, Environment and Climate Change Department and Chairman of the bank’s Climate Change Coordination Committee, Alex Rugamba, has declared.

The fund, called Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF), is a bilateral thematic trust fund to support African countries in their transition to climateresilient and low-carbon development.

The bank has created the fund to support climate change projects in African countries.

Rugamba said that the countries need to devise plans to build a more climate-resilient and low carbon future AfDB is expected to host and manage the ACCF, which was created with a 4.725 million euro contribution from Germany for an initial three-year period.

“The aim is to scale-up to a multi-donor trust fund as soon as at least one new donor commits to join.”

He explained how critical the ACCF would be for African

Economic Indicators As at M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

C Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

FX

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

countries.

Rugamba added: “Africa is the most vulnerable continent to the impacts of climate change, yet the region receives a very small share of climate finance as compared to other continents. I strongly believe it is the responsibility of the bank to help African countries access international climate finance to support their transition towards climate smart development.

This fund will help facilitate countries’ access to the financing they need to protect their economies and environmental assets in the face of climate change.

He said: “At the international level, the Green Cli-

2012. “The increase from the previous quarter can be largely attributed to a rise in the import value of beverages and tobacco, which increased by N208.9 billion, machinery and transport equipment, which increased by N145.2 billion or 54.4 per cent, and food and live animals, which increased by N51.5 billion or 35.7 per cent.”

mate Fund (GCF) has confirmed that 50 per cent of its total allocation should target adaptation to climate change, and that the most vulnerable countries - primarily in African countries - will be given priority.

“There is a great opportunity for the bank to catalyse and channel more climate finance to Africa. The bank will continue supporting the African members of the GCF board ahead of its next meeting in May, and we are already working on designing a partnership with the GCF for supporting African countries to prepare to access climate finance.

“ACCF grant recipients may include African governments, NGOs, research institutions, and regional institutions; grants will be either executed by the recipients themselves, or by the bank on their behalf.

CBN maintains high yields in fixed income

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

According to the report, “the total value of Nigeria’s imports amounted to N2.084 trillion in the third quarter of 2013. This was N486.5 billion or 30.4 per cent higher than N 1.598 trillion recorded in the previous quarter of 2013, and 64.0 per cent or N813.5 billion greater than the value of imports recorded in the third quarter of

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

entral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has maintained high yields in fixed income as a result of its continued tight monetary stance, according to analysts at Cowry Asset Management Limited.

The analysts added that Nigerian currency, the Naira, is expected to strengthen this week on the back of likely foreign portfolio investments in local fixed income securities such as treasury bills and bonds with the possibility of increasing dollar supply.

They explained that the naira defence stance of the CBN encouraged by recent positive oil price movements is expected to bring stability in the foreign exchange market despite slight dip in forex reserves by 0.005 percent to $37.11 billion as at April 16, 2014 as against $37.13 billion as at April 15.

The official naira/USD exchange rate improved amid sustained lower demand for dollar.

The naira appreciated against

the greenback by 0.01 per cent (or N0.01) to N155.73/USD after the CBN offered $800 million but sold $626.69 at its bi-weekly Retail Dutch Auction. The local currency also appreciated at the bureau de change by 0.12 per cent (or N0.20) to N170.00/USD while it closed steady at the parallel (‘black’) market at N171.00/USD. However, the naira depreciated at the inter-bank forex market by 0.73 per cent (or N1.17) to N162.12/ USD despite $10 million sales by Addax Petroleum to dealing lenders.

Also the analysts saw interbank rates falling this week following Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC)’s disbursements of N641.38 billion, which are expected to be fully credited during the week and maturing bills worth N190.62 billion, viz 91-day bills worth N34.89 billion; 142-day bills worth N20.00 billion; 153day bills worth N20.00 billion; 182-day bills worth N30 billion; and 364-day bills.

50 WORLD | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Syria to hold presidential election June 3

S

yria will hold presidential elections on June 3, the country’s parliament speaker announced yesterday, a vote President Bashar Assad is likely to contest, and win, as the country enters its fourth year of war.

The conflict, which began as demonstrations against Assad’s rule in March 2011, is now a civil war that has killed 150,000 people and forced one-third of the country’s population from their homes. Anti-Assad activists immediately said they would boycott the vote, calling it a farce.

World leaders have denounced

Assad’s intention to hold elections with the country still engulfed in violence.

Parliament Speaker Mohammed Laham said candidates seeking to run for president may register their candidacy from today, April 22 until May 1.

“I call on the citizens of the Syrian Arab republic, inside and outside (the country) to exercise their right in electing a president,” Laham said from parliament in comments broadcast live on state-run television.

Syrians living outside of the country may start voting earlier, from May 28, Laham said. It was

not clear whether he meant that to include more than 2.5 million refugees in neighboring states — an unlikely scenario due to logistical and political considerations.

Assad has not publicly said whether he would run, but in recent months, he appeared to be in campaign mode, visiting areas recently retaken by his forces.

State media have broadcast images of seemingly ecstatic residents welcoming the president during such trips. The government has presented the elections as the solution to the crisis: If the people choose Assad in the election, the fight should end; if

Assad loses, then he will leave.

The announcement raised questions on how the vote would be held, logistically, with hundreds of thousands of Syrians living either in rebel-held areas, contested areas, or under blockade by pro-government forces.

“Unfortunately, unfortunately, unfortunately, in the elections on June 3, Bashar Assad would be holding elections over the blood of Syrians,” Ahmad Alqusair said via Skype from a rebel-held town near the Lebanese border.

“If we are being blockaded from even eating bread, how can I

vote?”

The announcement was expected since Syrian law says the vote must be held between 60 and 90 days before Assad’s seven-year term ends on July 17. Earlier this month, the Syrian parliament approved an electoral law opening the door — at least in theory — to potential contenders besides Assad. The law states that any candidate running for president must have lived in Syria for the past 10 years and cannot have any other citizenship, apparently to prevent opposition figures in exile from running.

Ebola outbreak prompts changes in Ivory Coast cuisine

I Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (C) chats with people during his visit to Ein al-Tinah village, northeast of Damascus on Sunday.

Libya body charged with drawing charter starts work

L

ibya’s constituent assembly, which has been charged with drawing up a new constitution, launched its work yesterday in Al-Baida, in the country’s east where violence has been rife since the 2011 revolt.

Dozens of officials, tribal chiefs and civil society representatives took part in the ceremony amid tightened security measures. The new constitution has been billed as a milestone in the North

African country’s transition from the 42-year dictatorship of Moamer Kadhafi, who was overthrown and killed in 2011.

But 13 of the 60 assembly seats remain vacant, after unrest in certain areas stopped voting in a February 20 election to choose the body. A date for a new poll has yet to be set.

Assembly spokesman, Naji al-Harbi, said the remaining 47 members attended yesterday’s ceremony and held their first

talks to elect a president and discuss rules of procedure. The body, which has 18 months to prepare a draft constitution, is based in the eastern town as it was for the 1951 charter that Kadhafi abolished in 1977.

Eastern Libya was the cradle of the NATO-backed 2011 revolt.The country is awash with weapons from the conflict, and authorities have struggled to establish security by integrating anti-Kadhafi militias into the regular army or police force.

UN condemns ethnic killings in South Sudan

I

n Bentiu, the capital of oilproducing Unity state, more than 200 people sheltering inside a mosque were killed last week after rebel forces seized the town, the mission said in a statement, describing an apparent massacre after rebel forces ousted government troops from the key town. Some individuals “associated with the opposition” had used an

FM radio station to broadcast hate speech, even urging “men from one community to commit vengeful sexual violence.

Thousands of people have been killed in violence since December, when presidential guards splintered and fought along ethnic lines. The violence later spread across the country as soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir tried to put down a rebellion

led by Riek Machar, the former vice president.The U.N. has been warning of mounting evidence of ethnically-targeted killings in the world’s newest nation as both government troops and rebel forces lose and gain territories in sporadic clashes. Despite a ceasefire signed earlier this year, both sides continue to trade allegations over rights violations and civilian abuses.

vory Coast’s Health Minister Raymonde Goudou Coffie has called for her compatriots to stop eating porcupines and agoutis, which look like large river-rats, “until we can be sure there are no risks”.

Bush meats is known to be a vector of Ebola, the alarming haemorrhagic fever that has claimed at least 122 lives in Guinea, according to a UN World Health Organisation toll on April 17. Liberia, meanwhile, reports 13 deaths.

Hunters and restaurant owners in the central Ivorian town of Bouake are upset that clients have begun to steer clear of the strong taste of the agouti, a beast with a long snout and brown fur that can reach half a metre (1.6 feet) in

length,last week, the minister’s recommendation was still going unheeded or ignored by some traders and hunters in Bouake’s main bushmeat market. One hunter openly carried a dead rodent.

Emile, a customer in his 40s who seemed slightly tipsy, asked for “Ebola meat”, meaning braised agouti. “Ebola can’t survive alcohol or hot water,” claimed the scarred Rigobeli, who had just eaten a large meal.

But such scenes are swiftly becoming a thing of the past.

An official ban on bushmeat -- including antelopes, chimpanzees and porcupines as well as agoutis -- has been enforced and a week later, the Bouake market was empty.

Students add Easter twist to dwindling Venezuela protests

V

enezuelan students are marching barefoot, building crucifixes and planning to burn effigies of President Nicolas Maduro to try and breathe new life into their protest movement over Easter.The religious-themed demonstrations are the latest tactics in anti-government protests since early February that have convulsed the South American OPEC nation and led to 41 deaths.

But enthusiasm among opposition supporters for the street protests appears to be waning, with numbers dropping from previous months and Maduro’s position seemingly safe despite his constant references to coup

plots against him.”We may be fewer, but we are staying on the street!” vowed law student Nicole Gonzalez, who joined hundreds in Caracas at a barefoot march on Wednesday and a staging of Jesus’ “Via Crucis” walk with the crucifix on Thursday.

“These events symbolize the suffering we Venezuelans are enduring,” added Gonzalez, 18, who gave up a planned Easter holiday with friends on Margarita island to protest instead.

About 500 demonstrators joined Thursday’s enactment of the Christian tradition of the Stations of the Cross, where Jesus was said to have stopped on his way to being crucified.

Commonwealth Games: Quadri sure of table tennis medals Ajibade Olusesan

N

igerian table tennis star, Aruna Quadri, believes the country will win medals in the sport at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in

Glasgow.

He said that Team Nigeria has what it takes to be among the medal winning teams in Scotland, but added that only adequate preparation and support for the ping pongers can ensure

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

success at the games â&#x20AC;&#x153;We stand a chance of winning medals in Scotland because at the Spanish Open for instance, we had five English players and five Indian players with one English and two Indi-

51

ans making it to the last 64. But only two Nigerians took part in the competition with one of us making it to the main draw (round of 64). â&#x20AC;&#x153;England and India are not CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

Did you know?

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

Michael Laudrup was part of the Barcelona team when they won against Real Madrid 5 - 0. He was also part of the Real Madrid team when they won 5 - 0 against Barcelona

TUESday, APRIL 22, 2014

Omeruo denies lPlayer unsure future after link with ofsummer VillarReal

AjibadeOlusesan

S

uper Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, has been linked with a summer move to Spanish club, Villarreal, but he denied the speculation.

According to a source close to the player, Villarreal spotted the defender during the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009 but lost in the bid to sign him as the player moved to Standard Liege.

But the source said

Mourinho eyes record as Chelsea face Atletico

Moyes faces Man United sacking

Nigerian football not developing -Amodu

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 51

52

Sport

BUSINESS

FOCUS ON CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP

with Emmanuel Tobi emmanuel.tobi@newtelegraphonline.com

0805 400 5669

Emmanuel Tobi

N

igerians have been offered a unique opportunity to watch all the 64 matches of the

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Dstv offers N1500 subscription to watch World Cup

2014 World Cup in Brazil for just N1500 subscription after SuperSport secured the broadcast rights to the competition.

Revealing this to the media recently in Lagos,

General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. Martin Mabutho said Nigerians irrespective of the platform they are using need only to pay N1,500 to watch live matches of the

World Cup. He revealed that MultiChoice Nigeria decided to slash the decoder prices from N27,000 to N15,500 to enable Super Eagles fans and football lovers in general to watch the World Cup. The offer comes with two months subscription on the Access bouquet and excludes dish installation.

Mabutho pointed out that due to the late broadcast of some of the games, the DStv mobile devices and the Explora decoder will come in handy, in ensuring viewers see all the action and do not miss out during the World Cup. “Walka 7 allows you to watch in traffic, and in the office, while the

Explora with its two terabytes memory, gives viewers the opportunity to record all the games, right onto the decoder, and keep them for good.”

General Manager, SuperSport, Felix Awogu said the company will screen live all World Cup matches on DStv, GOtv, adding that Nigerians will have the opportunity of enjoying exciting and entertaining programmes live from Brazil.”

“We have also planned to bring live to the delight of our viewers, off pitch events at the Super Eagles’ camp, while the viewers will enjoy fanfest activities at the World Cup,” he said.

Nestle to further invest in youth development L-R: Mr. Felix Awogu, General Manager, SuperSport; Mrs. Chioma Afe, Marketing Manager, DStv and Mr. Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria during the MultiChoice World Cup Press Conference held at Federal Palace Hotel, Victorial Island Lagos recently. PHOTO: Courtesy DStv.

Lagos Heineken House set for Madrid duels

T

he anticipated resurgence or further slide of Chelsea will be the main focus at the Heineken House Lagos when the first leg semifinal matches of the UEFA Champions matches get underway this evening and tomorrow in Spanish capital, Madrid.

The rivalry among the visitors and consumers at the Heineken House Lagos is so intense especially those whose loyalty are to top English Premiership clubs. It has also been a visible trend on match days, depending on affinity; many fans tend to support the opposing club against the ‘rival’ club.

Expectedly, when the in-form Atletico Madrid host Chelsea at the Estadio Vincent Calderon Tuesday evening, the club with no significant fans

in Nigeria will enjoy huge supports from football fans at the Heineken House Lagos, urging them to go all out and eliminate the ‘last man standing’ of the English Premier League representative in this year’s competition!

Aside Tuesday match, Heineken House Lagos fans will also be interested in the outcome of the other match at the Santiago Bernabue also in Madrid on Wednesday.

The winners of the two matches over two legs will play in the final match of the competition on the 24th of next month at Stadium of Light in Lisbon, Portugal. Already, five lucky Nigerian fans will enjoy all-expense paid trip courtesy of Heineken at the final match just like previous six seasons.

Man City’s Nwakali resumes training

Nwakali (right)

Ifeanyi Ibeh

T

he Flying Eagles got a massive boost on Monday as Manchester City midfielder, Chidiebere Nwakali, trained with the team for the first time since arriving from his base in England.

Nwakali, who was one of Nigeria’s star players at last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, has been nursing a knee

injury that has prevented him from training on the pitch with the Nigerian U-20 side currently preparing for the qualifying rounds of the 2015 African Youth Championship.

But there was positive news on Monday as the midfielder took to the training pitch of the National Stadium in Abuja and kicked a football for the first time in weeks to show he has fully recovered from a knee injury.

However, the trio of Bernard Bulbwa, Chidera Eze and Ahmed Umar are still trying to recover from their respective injuries.

Bulbwa is nursing a groin injury, Eze has a hamstring strain and Ahmed Umar is suffering from a knee complaint.

Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles will on Wednesday face Abuja Football College by 7.30 am in another tune-up match at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja.

Charles Ogundiya

N

estle Nigeria Plc, the maker of Milo said they have taken it upon themselves to continue investing in youth development, seeing this as part of the company social responsibility.

Speaking during the press briefing heralding the 2014 edition of the Milo African U-13 Football championship in Lagos, the Managing Director and CEO of the company Dharnesh Gordon, said: “We firmly believe that sports is a wonderful platform for our youths to learn important values such as honesty, team work, fair play, respect, adherence to rules, discipline, perseverance, resilience and strong sense of purpose.

“Nestle Milo has been at the forefront of grass-roots sports development through various sporting platforms like Nestle Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship, Nestle Milo Football Clinic and Nestle-IAAF Kids Athletic Programme. We are now bringing the African U-13 Championship to Nigeria to demonstrate our long-term commitment to enhancing quality of life of youths.”

The Pan-African football competition which is organised every two years will see St. Barnabas LGEA School A, Ilorin, Kwara State represent Nigeria after their triumph at the Milo sponsored U-13 football event of the National School Sports Festival last November in Ilorin.

L-R: The Heineken Senior Brand Manager Ngozi Nkwoji, Jayne Nelson Uzuegbu, Sopoluchukwu (both winners) and the Brand Manager Heineken, Kehinde Kadiri after the draw ceremony last week at the Heineken House Lagos.

INTERNATIONAL SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Countdown to Fifa World Cup 51

53

Days To Go

Belgium ready for any team – Courtois Atletico Madrid goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, in this interview with FIFA.com speaks on Belgium’s World Cup hopes, expectation against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League as well as his club’s wonderful season.

Talking of your childhood, what’s your first World Cup memory?

I remember the Final of the ’98 World Cup in France and then watching Belgium at the 2002 World Cup. Our coach Marc Wilmots was part of that side and we were knocked out by Brazil. The game was 0-0 and he scored a goal, but the ref disallowed it and, well, [Brazil ended up winning 2-0]. That was the last big game Belgium played at a World Cup. Let’s see how far we can go this time.

There’s a huge amount of expectation in Belgium ahead of Brazil 2014. Do you worry it could weigh heavily on the squad?

We’re looking at the World Cup as a great experience and we’re going to try and go as far as we possibly can. People in Belgium are talking about winning the competition or equalling [Belgium’s best-ever finish of] fourth place from 1986, but we need to be realistic and keep our feet on the ground. We could win our group and get Germany or Portugal next. Even if we beat them we could get Argentina after that! Then there are teams like Brazil and Spain.

There are so many good teams with a level of experience we just don’t have.

We’ve got loads of players at big clubs but a World Cup is a world apart. You have to approach it with humility.

You’ve been very highly rated back home in Belgium for years now, no mean feat in a country that produced the likes of Jean Marie Pfaff and Michel Preud’homme.

Though you won’t have seen them play live, have you watched footage of their performances or did you base your game on other keepers?

I’ve seen videos of them and I like to watch how they position themselves, but football has changed a lot since then. You can’t compare players from 30 years ago to current ones, because the speed of the

Courtois

Courtois

game is different and keepers have to be much more complete now. The goalkeepers I used to admire when I was growing up, the ones I watched closely to try and learn from, were [Iker] Casillas and [Edwin] Van der Sar. In 2012, when you were on the verge of winning your first trophy with Atletico, you told us that every final is unique and might be your last. Since then you’ve lifted the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and the Copa del Rey, while Atletico lead La Liga with four games remaining and are in the Champions League semi-finals.

Did you imagine all of this?

I didn’t expect it, no. I remember playing my first game in the Belgian league just before turning 17 and dreaming of having a good career over there, but I didn’t imagine playing for a big club or winning trophies like these. And now we’re not far away from the most important one of them all, the Champions League. We’ve got the Liga title close too which, because of Barcelona and [Real] Madrid, you never think you’ll get the chance to win. They’ve got better individuals but we’re a very good team and that’s important, because you don’t need to rely on any one player to win the championship. It’s going to be hard to repeat all this though.

We’re having a huge season and, now we’ve got this far, we’ve got

to try and take advantage. It’ll be tough to take if it ends without us winning anything, but it won’t be for lack of trying.

How did you feel when you were drawn against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals, and learning that you’d be able to play despite being on loan from the Blues?

I’m very relieved. For me, the fact that we’ve drawn Chelsea, like we did in the European Super Cup [in 2012, when Atletico won 4-1], is special, because even though I’m at Atleti, Chelsea are my club too.

It’s better not to think about it too much though and play like I always do, because if I start thinking, ‘Oh, I’d better be careful’, then I’ll end up playing poorly. I want to win trophies here and I’ll be an Atleti supporter for these two games, but at all other times I’m a Chelsea fan too. I hope they win the Premier League, just not these two [Champions League] matches.

I really hope we can reach the final as we’re so close. They’re the favourites, but [beaten quarterfinal opponents] Barça were too.

What’s the key to Atletico’s success?

How much of it is down to Diego Simeone?

So much of this success is down to Simeone because he’s the man who’s guided us this far. From the first time he spoke to us when he

was appointed, he told us he had a very clear idea about how he wanted things to be done and how he wanted us to play. That clarity has been key. You might be out for five weeks but when you come back you know exactly what you have to do, because the way we set ourselves out doesn’t change. We know what each player’s role is.

You come from a family of volleyball players, so why did you opt for football? And how did you end up in goal?

My parents have played topdivision volleyball in Belgium and also beach-volleyball. My sister plays for Belgium and was recently voted Europe’s best ‘libero’, while my brother plays too, though he has to fit it around his studies. When I was little, we had a beach-volleyball court in our garden at home and I used to love throwing myself around after the ball. I was the same when I played football so, when I was asked to choose between playing in defence or in goal, I chose to be a goalkeeper.

And it’s gone pretty well (laughs).

This season has gone near-perfectly thus far. What would be the dream finale?

Well, of course, winning La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup would be perfect! But realistically speaking, I hope to win at least one trophy and go as far as we possibly can at the World Cup.

54

SPORT | EURO FOOTBALL

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Mourinho eyes record as Chelsea face Atletico J

Match time: 7.45

L

l Sweats over Hazard

ose Mourinho will break Sir Alex Ferguson’s record of Champions League semifinal appearances when Chelsea travel to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.

The tie will be the eighth time the Portuguese has taken charge of a last four encounter in Europe’s premier competition and his third at the Stamford Bridge helm.

Mourinho made his Champions League debut in 2001-02, when he took over midway through the season at Porto, but won the competition in his first full tilt at the title, in 2003-04 (having claimed the Uefa Cup in 2002-03).

He took the Blues to the cusp of European glory, losing out to Liverpool at the semi-final stage in both 2005 and 2007.

Mourinho left Chelsea for Inter Milan and led the Italians to treble glory in 2009-10, as they claimed the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League - Inter’s first success in Europe’s premier club competition since 1965.

That was Mourinho’s second Champions League victory and his fourth

Hazard

semi-final in the competition. With three more added in consecutive seasons at Madrid, he will now surpass Ferguson with eight last-four appearances on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, midfielder Eden Hazard is running out of time in his race to be

fit for the Blues’ Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

The Belgian has been sidelined for just short of two weeks after suffering a calf injury during the 2-0 second-leg win over Paris Saint-Germain in the European Cup quarter-finals.

Wenger happy at duo’s return

A

Aaron-Ramsey

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger hopes the return of key midfielders Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey will help his side secure their place in the Premier League’s top four.

Ozil, the club’s £42.5 million record signing, returned to action after missing seven matches with a hamstring injury as Arsenal won 3-0 at Hull City on Sunday.

The German was overshadowed, however, by Ramsey, who had a hand in

all three goals as Arsenal recorded a victory that kept them in front of Everton in the tussle for the final Champions League place.

Ramsey, making only his second start since December 26, scored his 16th goal of the season before featuring prominently in the build-up to the other goals as Lukas Podolski struck twice.

“Ramsey and Ozil give us a cutting edge in the final third that makes us look much more dangerous,” Wenger said.

No Juve contract agreement yet- Pogba

P

aul Pogba revealed that he has not held discussions with Juventus about his future beyond the end of the season.

The 21-year-old has been linked with a summer move to Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain but Juventus are keen to agree a contract extension with the highly-rated midfielder.

The French international also revealed his admi-

Pogba

ration for PSG but insisted that his short-term focus is on campaigns in Serie A

Moyes faces Man United sacking

Blatter

atest reports emanating from England reveal that David Moyes is set to be sacked as manager of Manchester United The Glazer family has decided to dismiss the Scot just 11 months after he was appointed Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor.

A United spokesperson has denied that Moyes has already been sacked, but Goal UK can report that his departure is “imminent”. He is not expected to be in the dugout when United plays Norwich City at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Player-coach Ryan Giggs is expected to be placed in charge of the team until the end of the season, with the other members of the backroom staff that Moyes brought with him from Everton - Steve Round, Phil Neville and Jimmy Lumsden - also set to leave the club. A permanent manager will then be appointed at the end of the season.

The Glazers, the Americans who own the club, regarded Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Everton, United’s 11th loss in all competitions since the turn of the year, as the final straw in what has been a catastrophic season.

Blatter says no to TV replays

S

epp Blatter has made clear his position on the continued debate of further help for referees with television replays.

The debate this term has centred in Italy on whether or not match officials need a greater level of assistance from live TV pictures to determine particular in-game decisions.

Whilst a number of the League’s Coaches are in favour, the FIFA President is not.

“I am fiercely conservative and that is why I do not want it,” Blatter has explained this week to Bein Sport.

“Replays during a game would change the flow of play. The greatness of the game is in playing 90 minutes without stoppages and in play you have to live with human errors. The play is human.”

Barca keen to extend Messi deal

B

arcelona president Josep Bartomeu says Lionel Messi will be and the Europa League. offered a new contract, with the ‘So far I have not spoken Argentine’s existing deal expiring to anyone about the contract in 2018. renewal with the club nor the future on the market,’ Pogba told Bein Sports.

‘I am focused on the field, I am thinking only about this season and winning a Scudetto which for the club would be historic.

‘And then there is also the Europa League. If we achieve the double then it would be something exceptional.

Messi

Messi, who relinquished Ballon d’Or honours to Cristiano Ronaldo in January, has been less of a force for Barca this season with injury hampering his progress.

Bartomeu, though, feels the 26-yearold remains the sport’s top act.

“Messi is under contract until 2018.

But we want to improve it to adapt to football’s current situation.

“I think people are being unfair on Leo Messi. He has led us to so many wins in recent years.

“He has led the team and done so very well and we have no doubt that he will continue to lead the club into the future.

SPORT 55

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Nigerian football not developing -Amodu Chimaobi Uchendu

F

ormer Coach of Super Eagles, Amodu Shaibu, has warned Nigerians not to be carried away by good results posted by different national teams recently, since the results do not translate to development.

The Super Eagles won the Nations Cup in South Africa 2013 and the Eaglets lifted the World U-17 trophy also last year at the Untied Arab Emirates.

He said the good results gave Nigeria a good image in the comity of football playing nations, but it does not touch the very fabric of football development that is needed in the country.

“I will not call winning the Nations Cup and qualifying for the World Cup as development. There is indeed more to development of the game than all these, even

Godwin Ikonshul in jersey No 10 of Union Bank trying to dribble Chiwendu Nwaigbo in jersey No 12 of Lagos Islanders during the 2014 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League held at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium, Surulere. Union Bank won by 80-73 points.

Sport Trending Omeruo denies link with Villarreal TWITTER |@NTelegraphSport

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C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

that the Yellow Submarines are still monitoring the youngster in Middlesbrough where he is currently on a loan spell from Chelsea and have contacted his agent, Obinna Emelogu, on the possibility of taking the player to Spain in the summer.

“Omeruo has become a hot property now, I can tell you. Ike Uche’s club is very interested in him, I don’t know if you are aware that they wanted to sign him after the U-17 World Cup but they failed but since then they have been monitoring his progress and now they want to see how they can take him away from Chelsea,” the source said.

When our correspondent contacted the player to speak on the move, he said he was ignorant of such talks.

“Honestly, I am not aware of any transfer to that club you mentioned or any other one for that matter. All I know is that I am a Chelsea player and I am on loan now at Boro,” he said.

When probed to clear the air on his future after the expiration of the loan deal this summer, the former Sunshine Stars player said, “I really don’t know yet, I just want to concentrate on helping Boro till the end of the loan; my agent is handling everything about that. I don’t know if I will go back to Chelsea or remain here, we have to wait till that time.”

Omeruo is a strong member of the Super Eagles team preparing for the forthcoming World Cup in Brazil. He was in the Nigerian team that won the Nations Cup last year in South Africa.

though that I am not against them.

“The whole football structure in Nigeria; the coaches, the clubs, the referees, the youth section and several others need to run in line with international standards. It is not hiding under the shadows of winning the Nations Cup and qualifying for the World Cup to say your football is developing, far from that,” he said.

He explained that a nation is said to be developing in football when every area of their football is progressing “Look at a country like South Africa, despite the fact that they have not won the Nations cup for some time now, and did not even qualify for the 2014 Brazil World Cup, their football development is far above Nigeria’s.

They are well structured and organised which explains why Nigerian players and even coaches struggle to go there.

“How many foreign players are in our league and how are our clubs structured? Every Nigerian player wants to leave this country to the extent that they go to countries like Sudan, Vietnam and other lesser countries to play professional football.

“You cannot say your football is developing when you cannot retain your best players in the country.

All your best players have left and the ones remaining are seeking to leave. Until your good players are able to stay back in the country and do well, you cannot say your football is developing,” Amodu said.

Amodu

Commonwealth Games: Quadri sure of table tennis medals C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

better than us currently, but they are playing tournaments regularly to keep improving. We also need support to be playing tournaments regularly. With that we can do so much better than before,” he said.

Quadri, who defied all odds to make the last 16 at the International Table Tennis Federation-sanctioned World Tour tagged Spanish Open, said that government’s attention to football was affecting other sports, particularly table

tennis.

“We really need support and motivation as we are hoping that things change in our country’s sport because priority is just being accorded to only football. For us in table tennis, things are not going on well because we are not getting enough support and this puts us in a difficult situation all the time. Most times, we spend our personal money to attend competitions in order to be well prepared for Commonwealth Games. We really appreciate the financial sup-

port we get from the President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Wahid Oshodi,” he said.

Quadri pleaded with the National Sports Commission to consider supporting the players with grants to attend competitions.

“I wish to take part in more pro-tours before Commonwealth Games, but I need support and motivation, I have spent a lot on myself and I am in need of financial support to keep playing tournaments regularly so as to be in good shape for the Glasgow Games,” he added.

On Marble

World Record

Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.

Sanctity of Truth

– Narcotics Anonymous

w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha TUESday, APRIL 22, 2014

On November 1, 2008, Lewis Hamilton of England became the first black to win Formula One World Championship.

N150

Europe hails Nigeria’s ascendancy, up to a point

S

o congratulations to Nigeria on its new-found position as Africa’s largest economy. After ‘rebasing’ its gross domestic product (GDP) data to include previously uncounted industries like telecoms, information technology, airlines, and filmmaking, Nigeria last week leapfrogged South Africa to become the continent’s number one. The news that Nigeria’s GDP had been revised upwards by 89% from 42.4 trillion naira to 80.2 trillion naira ($510 billion), made headlines not just in Lagos and Johannesburg, but also Washington, Brussels, Berlin, Beijing and other major capitals that see Africa’s character changing at a stunning rate.

Wester n institutions have followed the announcement with predictions of their own. World Bank Chief Economist for the African re gion, Francisco Ferreira, said the rebasing exposed Nigeria’s potential to the world, and would attract more investors into the country. Ratings agency Moody’s estimated that Nigeria’s GDP would surge to $4.5 trillion by 2050.

Jim O’Neill, the for mer Goldman Sachs economist who coined the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) moniker, has said Nigeria could be one of the top 15 world economies by 2050. O’Neill’s acronym for the next emerging nations - MINT, or Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey – already tells us about where he thinks Africa’s biggest economy is going. With growth above 7% a year over the past decade, plenty of natural resources like oil, and a very liquid financial market in Lagos, Nigeria has a lot to offer.

Europe has certainly taken note of Nigeria’s status, even if the official declaration was a long time coming. After all, a casual visitor to Lagos, Port Harcourt or even Abuja would have noticed the buzz and drive of the people, from the tireless street hawkers to the magnates behind the spectacular property booms. Visitors would have also seen how prolific the movie industry is (Nollywood produces more films a year than any other country except India), how everyone seems to have a mobile phone, how air travel has become almost banal over the past two de-

World View LEO CENDROWICZ Brussels Bureau Chief, New Telegraph

Jonathan

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala

cades, and how financial services have boomed.

And it marks a tur ning point for the image of both Nigeria and Africa. Europe’s view of the continent is still shaped by its dark history, as is Africa’s view of Europe. While Europe long ago accepted that its colonial carve-up was morally wrong, there remains a residual belief in many cor ners that British, French and Belgian exper tise and supervision was somehow essential for Africa’s development. Many even imagine the poverty and cor ruption so prevalent across the continent stems from the absence of colonial oversight. So Nigeria’s emergence as the top dog – above South Africa, supposedly the most European of African nations – does a lot to transfor m such clichés.

Yet there is also caution at the new g rade. It is significant that South Africa is the country displaced at the summit. At $510 billion, Nigerian’s revised GDP

is well above South Africa’s $370 billion. But Nigeria’s population is 170 million, compared to South Africa’s 53 million, so on a per-capita basis, South Africa’s GDP numbers are three times larger. And demography also explains the forecasts about Nigeria’s rise down the line: the United Nations expects that by 2050, there will be around 440 million Nigerians on the planet, a greater population than the US. The caveats are not just from South Africa, but from within Nigeria, where the rebasing has done nothing to actually boost the economy. Even if the figures showed more money was being generated, Nigerians themselves are no richer today than they were before the announcement. Nothing has changed in Nigeria’s real economy, except how it is measured.

Indeed, life for most Nigerians is still grim by global standards.

More than 60% of Nigerians live below the poverty line, on less than one dollar a day, and income

After all, a casual visitor to Lagos, Port Harcourt or even Abuja would have noticed the buzz and drive of the people, from the tireless street hawkers to the magnates behind the spectacular property booms inequality is getting worse. The United Nations’ Human Development Index puts Nigeria at 153 out of 187 countries and territories, with life expectancy of 52.3 years and mean schooling of just 5.2 years.

In 2013, the Economist Intelligence Unit rated Nigeria the worst place for a child to be born out of 80 countries surveyed. Corruption blights the nation, while the Boko Haram insurgency in the north deters investors. This builds up a political risk that could undo many of the economic gains.

So, while Europe and the rest of the world watch Nigeria celebrate, there is wariness. The reshuffled statistics have put it in a position of influence. But Nigeria also needs to live up to the grade it has given itself, by ensuring that wealth is used to lift the country as a whole.

That, ultimately, is the true test of a nation.

OmoBaba

NIGERIA WILL NOT BREAK UP - Jonathan

-What God has joined... , no one should put asunder!

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